Today is Thursday 30 January 2025 and it’s also the day Mike de Kock sends out the last runner in his name – Kadizora in Race 5 at the Vaal.
According to the yard she has ‘a money chance’.
By the way January 2025 has panned out, she’ll probably run close in what would be a fitting kind of tribute to the ‘MF de Kock’ that we have followed in race books for the last 35 years.
Son and the father! Mat and Mike de Kock seen at the Summer Sale on Thursday last week (Pic – Cape Racing Sales)
In reference to an official statistical era, it’s the end of a great one – Mike de Kock ends with an estimated 3803 career winners, including 141 Grade 1’s, 158 Grade 2’s and 102 Grade 3 wins – unequalled in SA racing history and set to be the gold standard for many years to come.
But it really is ‘business as usual’ for Mike de Kock, whose official partnership with his son Mathew de Kock starts with two runners at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday evening.
Mike said on his website www.mikedekockracing.com: “This is a change in name only, but absolutely nothing else changes. It’s quite odd, because in most other jurisdictions around the world a new partnership does not require a change of entity and a new set of statistics like it does here. It’s not about stats, however. We have goals to achieve, for ourselves and our patrons, and not a single thing changes in the stable.”
1st R80312.5, 2nd R25700, 3rd R12850, 4th R6425, 5th R3212.5, RCIS R6500
FOLLOW IN THE BOX SEAT PODCAST B STAKES
For All Horses with a nett rating of 101 & below
| 1 | 1 | Lindbergh | 57 | 85 | A | Kabelo Matsunyane | Tienie Prinsloo | |
| 2 | 2 | Zinikele | 57.5 | 92 | BA | Sean Veale | Gareth van Zyl | |
| 3 | 3 | Field Marshal | 58.5 | 98 | A | Gavin Lerena | Frank Robinson | |
| 4 | 4 | Few Dollars More | 57 | 87 | CA | Cole Dicken | Glen Kotzen | |
| 5 | 5 | Officer In Command | 58.5 | 89 | A | Raymond Danielson | Mike / Mathew de Kock | |
| 6 | 6 | Sundance Kid | 61.5 | 94 | CA | #Rachel Venniker -1.5 | Wendy Whitehead | |
| 7 | 7 | Laudato | 55.5 | 84 | A | Siphesihle Hlengwa | Garth Puller | |
| 8 | 8 | Last One Standing | 57 | 86 | A | Deryl Daniels | Glen Kotzen | |
| 9 | 9 | Winter Games | 57 | 87 | A | Tristan Godden | Michael Miller | |
| 10 | 10 | Royal Swan Master | 57 | 85 | BA | Athandiwe Mgudlwa | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (4,8) | ||||||||
Mathew is presently in Australia, wrapping up his affairs and packing for his return.
He said: “I am very proud of having our first runners in South Africa in my name on Friday night, also at the big weekend meeting at Turffontein. I cut my teeth in SA as an assistant to my dad. It’s a big moment for me having my name next to his name in the race guides. He’s a legend in his own right.
“Nothing is going to change, we’ve always worked together even though my name hasn’t been there. It’s all paperwork really. I am excited for what the future holds. In a weird way, I am in Australia this time and Dad’s at home while we’re having runners together. It used to be the other way round, when I was holding the fort for the big meetings and he was travelling. I wish everyone well for the weekend. We have some nice runners and I hope we can get the official partnership off to a good start!”
