Mike De Kock needs no introduction when it comes to the training ranks in the South African horse racing industry. A record holder with over 140 Grade 1 winners to his name, he has also trained over 3,600 winners who have won in South Africa, UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, United Kingdom and the USA.
One of South Africa’s greatest racing ambassadors, multiple former SA Champion trainer Mike de Kock concluded the 2023/4 season with 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 represented an ‘average earnings per runner’ of R31 260, the highest in SA.
He 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.
Season highlights were the successes of the unbeaten filly Gimme A Nother and the hard-galloping gelding and reigning SA Horse Of The Year Dave The King, who gave the maestro his 141st Grade 1 success.
The recently exported 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.
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 Gr1 King’s Plate, with the Cape Met as an option thereafter.”
The veteran has trained winners in South Africa, UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, United Kingdom and the USA.
Born on 14 February 1964, Mike de Kock has been instrumental in placing South African racing on the international map in the 21st century having trained international superstars such as Ipi Tombe, Horse Chestnut, Vercingetorix, Lizards Desire and Archipenko to name a few. The success story continues!
Learn more at https://mikedekockracing.com/