A great season with a small string

Mike de Kock’s stable concluded the 2023/4 season with a win from Woodland Glade at Greyville’s Polytrack on 31 August, bringing the seasonal tally to 78 winners for a 14% strike rate. The stable saddled 259 other places from a total of just 563 runners, and the gross stake earnings amounted to R17,655,844. This represents an average earnings per runner of R31,260, the highest in the land.

Mike’s saddled six Grade 1 winners during the season, his best since 2015, and did so from training his smallest string since he started his career in 1989. Highlights were the successes of unbeaten filly Gimme A Nother and the hard-galloping gelding Dave The King.

Gimme A Nother won seven races from as many starts between October 2023 and April 2024. Her wins included the Gr1 Wilgerbosdfrift SA Classic and the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes. Her success contributed to giving the Wilgerbosdrift/Mauritzfontein partnership 23 black-type wins and the Champion Breeders’ title for the season.

Mike commented: “My thanks and congratulations to Jessica and Steven Jell, and Mary Slack, for the wonderful performances posted by Gimme A Nother and for securing the breeder’s championship. Gimme A Nother is being pointed to an American campaign and we’re all looking forward to see how she shapes against some of the best fillies in the world.

“Congratulations also to Gaynor Rupert and Drakenstein Stud for winning another Owners Championship. We’re glad to have played a part in it with Silver Sanctuary, whose Gr1 win in the Woolavington 2000 was well deserved.

“Another runner worthy of accolades Is Humdinger, raced in partnership with Joao Da Mata. This game mare never gave us a day’s problems, she ran her heart out in every race she contested and got her head in front with a tenacious display in the Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes. We wish her well in her stud career at Drakenstein and thanks to Joao for bringing her to us as a three-year-old.”

Mike added: “There is not much one can add to what has already been said about Richard Fourie. The man is a truly talented professional and I’d venture to say his 377 winners for the season is a record that will stand forever. They said that about Anthony Delpech’s 334  winners – the previous record – and Richard raised the bar – but 377 could well prove to be the upper margin of all margins.”

He congratulated Champion Trainer Justin Snaith and said: “Justin and his family run a world-class operation and their ongoing success speaks volumes. I continue to enjoy our rivalry.”

Mike said about the 2024/5 season: “The string will remain limited in numbers, a boutique string of around 60 horses, and we’ll have a presence in Gauteng and Durban. There are a few young runners that will come through the ranks in the Highveld spring and summer, but Dave The King will be the main arrow in our bow. He has developed into a high class act, and it’s hard to imagine him getting any better, but you never know. His aim will be the 2025 King’s Plate, with the Cape Met as an option thereafter.”

Mike thanked the stable’s patrons and said: “We are humbled by the continued support from leading owners. Thanks also to my teams at Randjesfontein and Summerveld for their hard work and dedication throughout the season.

“My wife Diane and Vivian Nkosi have produced many a champion from their work with every season’s incoming two-year-olds, no less than the likes of Gimme A Nother recently. David Dlamini and Vengi Masawi have held the fort in Johannesburg and Michael Nzilane has done the same in KZN. Mathew played a vital role in developing the skills of this team before he left for Australia. I am privileged to be working with such a talented team.”

Mike said that Mathew and his training partner Robbie Griffiths had notched a Top 10 position on the log in Melbourne, Australia. “I am very proud of him. They’ve achieved this in just a few seasons of working together.”