Humdinger gets well-deserved Grade 1

Mike de Kock celebrated his 140th G1 winner when the game mare, Humdinger, got up to beat Happy Chance in a grandstand finish to the R1,5 million Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes on Durban July Day. Humdinger and Happy Chance gave the race sponsors. Ridgemont, a 1-2 in the race, and provided part-owner Joao Da Mata with his first G1 success.

Interestingly, Strydom rode Mike’s 7th Grade 1 winner, Raratonga Treaty, on July Day 27 years ago, in 1997.

Sporting Post reported: “It was vintage Piere Strydom stuff, when the ‘Blonde Bomber’ led from the front to conjure up a dazzling victory for the gallant five-year-old Humdinger, that after the 58 year old jockey was left smarting amidst the rough and tumble of the Hollywoodbets Durban July an hour earlier.

“This was a terrific ride,” said Mike de Kock, who suggested there was ‘life in the old dog yet’, after the multiple champion rider judged matters perfectly in a race where things panned out perfectly. “She’s the kind of racehorse that we would all dream to own. And while I was worried about the mile, she showed her mettle,” he added.

A R180 000 2020 National 2yo Sale purchase, the versatile Humdinger, a full-sister to the speedy East Cape-based stakes winner and 2021/22 season award-winner Glacier Gold, has now won 8 races with 15 places from 33 starts for stakes of R2 384 375.

Bred from the Equus speed champion What A Winter (Western Winter), Humdinger is out of the five time – winning Fort Wood mare, Himalayan Hill.