The MK’s Pride fairytale is back in print, and in the winner’s enclosure, after a fifteen month drought!
The hard-fought victory by Koos Nkale’s much-loved Willow Magic entire in the headline event was the highlight for many of Sunday’s KZN Breeders Raceday at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Muzi Yeni drives MK’s Pride to victory in the Sunday headliner (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The R600 000 KwaZulu-Natal Breeders Mile provided the classy MK’s Pride (5-2) an ideal opportunity to get back on the winning trail, and so he did, digging deep under the enthusiastic Muzi Yeni, to hold off the spirited challenge of the less experienced 3yo tote favourite Noble City (33-10) by half a length in a time of 97,91 secs.
A game run was that of Peter Muscutt’s 5yo Gr1-winning sprinter Battle Force who was trying the mile for the first time in a year and ran a gallant third.
Originally trained by Paul Peter, and then for a time by Mike de Kock, MK’S Pride is thriving in the care of veteran Robbie Sage and took his first trophy since winning the 2022 Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes.
A proud owner Koos Nkale holds the silverware aloft (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Bred by Summerhill, the winner is a son of Willow Magic (Dubawi) out of the modest one-time winning Admire Main mare, Ikimasu.
He has now won 10 races with 9 places from 30 starts for stakes of R2 701 700.
As we have noted previously, and worth an observation ahead of the KZN Yearling Sale this week – here’s a horse nobody wanted at sale and who has gone on and earned over R2,7 million!
Ask Koos Nkale about the thrills if you are considering buying – and enjoy the delightful post-race banter:
