Black type for Mary’s Greenlight

Mary’s Greenlight posted a win in the Listed Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m at Greyville on Boxing Day, a black-type win that will boost her paddock value when she retires to the broodmare barn at Wilgerbosdrift at the end of her career. But that time has not come yet, as she returned fresh and game after a rest and there may well be more success for her this season.

Mike de Kock commented: “This is fantastic for Mary (owner, Mary Slack). We gave Mary’s Greenlight a rest after the season here. She had a little spell and then we brought her back in. This was a race I had in mind from after the July, when we put her away. She stayed in KZN to prep for the race.

 

“On ratings, she had to be in the first two if she ran anywhere near her form. She’s a nice filly and she’s got her black type now. It’s a ‘Mary Christmas’ and a nice present for Mary for Christmas Day. She’s a filly who has been immature and we’ve expected a lot more from her, but she’s delivered today.”

Jockey Raymond Danielson commented: “Mr de Kock was straight-forward about the draw and said to take my medicine from there and drop her in. When she came out, she obviously had no chance to sit closer, which is where I wanted to be. I dropped her in and then the pace started getting on and a few horses slotted onto the rail, which allowed me to creep a bit closer.  When I asked, she gave it to me and I had to slow her down a little, as she’s come off a rest. She ran to the line. There was a horse coming at her at the finish, so she won a very nice race.”

 

Mike is excited about Mathew de Kock’s return to South Africa early in 2025 and said: “With Mathew coming back, we’re going to build the string here and in Gauteng. Hopefully we can get up to the numbers we had from before. Mathew is ambitious and am sure he’ll build the stable back up to where it can be competitive on a national basis.”