#Mike de Kock

With Charles Dickens out of the equation, the WSB Met, scheduled for January 28, could end up being one of the best races of the season from a betting perspective. The sponsors of the grade 1 race, World Sports Betting, have Jet Dark (7-2) and Kommetdieding (4-1) at the top of the market. This column's advice - don't touch these prices, for the…

Sparkling Water, a daughter of five-time Durban July winning stallion Silvano, slammed the males in a dazzling display of power galloping to follow in the golden hoofprints of champion Igugu - also trained by the maestro, Mike de Kock. She was ridden by Smanga Khumalo, who last won the big race in 2013. Gold Circle Commercial Executive Patrick…

Salute the Soldier wins Maktoum Challenge Round 3 on Super Saturday at Meydan, with the next stop the Dubai World Cup. Photo by Erika Rasmussen, courtesy of Dubai Racing Club March 8 (UPI) -- Super Saturday in Dubai, the highlight of weekend horse racing around the world, opened the door to World Cup night for some of the horses who have toiled…

When Muzi Yeni retired to bed on Saturday night there would have been one thought on his mind - is this the year I win my first Durban July? The 35-year-old will have applauded S'manga Khumalo's win on Heavy Metal in 2013 and - ever since - will have been keen to follow in his footsteps. Now - as a result of Safe Passage's authoritative win in…

Brian's children made every effort to spend good quality time with him before he passed away whilst he was in Port Elizabeth. His son Shaun, who lives in the US, spoke to his father twice every day as he was not able to get to see him in time. Born in East London on 12 June, 1939, Brian Clive de Villiers always adored horses. Turf Talk reports that…

After the disappointment of Desert Miracle's defeat - labelled'a debacle' by the champion trainer - in the fairer sex equivalent, Mike de Kock must fancy his chances of making it a SA Triple Crown double after the recently retired new Ridgemont Highlands stallion Malmoos' dramatic success a year earlier. "Safe Passage is a helluva horse - I still…

TAB betting has opened for Saturday's Betway Summer Cup and there are many options for betters to make big money. The R2.5-million race will be run over 2000m on the Turffontein Standside track. There are 10 races on the card which also includes the Grade 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans for three-year-olds and the Betway Ipi Tombe Stakes for fillies…

Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun works out at Churchill Downs in preparation for Saturday's Stephen Foster Stakes. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs July 1 (UPI) -- The Fourth of July weekend kicks off the second half of the horse racing year with a bang as Mandaloun, Life Is Good, Ce Ce and other notables return from layoffs. Adding to the…

As good as Sea Cottage and Horse Chestnut? That is hallowed turf that pundits are venturing onto in their assessment of a young horse called Charles Dickens. These are not racetrack BS artists, but respected people who know the game inside out - like Charles Faull, who described Charles Dickens's victory in a strong Allowance Plate at Kenilworth on…

Taking on five accomplished older campaigners and giving 9 kgs to a promising, albeit less experienced peer, the handsome chestnut never came off the bit as he cruised home to win the R130000 Allowance Plate over 1400m with contemptuous ease under regular pilot Aldo Domeyer. He is now undefeated in five starts and has been described by his…

Trainer Roy Magner saddles Melech in Race 2 and he is the best bet on the card. He produced a promising debut effort over this course and distance. He showed good pace, understandably raced green but the manner in which he stayed on at the finish was encouraging. The son of William Longsword would have gained from the experience and with the…

Mike de Kock will be looking for his 10 Betway Summer Cup triumph and he certainly holds a potent hand in the R2.5-million Grade 1 race over 2000m at Turffontein Racecourse on Saturday. He has four runners in the 19-horse field, including the top three in the betting. His quartet of runners comprises Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Sparkling…

On a memorable day, South Africa's leading first season sire of 2020/21, Rafeef not only produced a Gr1 winner over 2450m, his sons filled the exacta in a Gr31100m contest to demonstrate his versatility and exciting ability. Going off at 4-1, Rafeef's son Aragosta (4-1) benefitted from another superbly judged ride by the rampant Richard Fourie to…

About 150 racehorses are descending on Cape Town from upcountry for the all-new Summer Festival of Racing, which kicks off on Saturday 19 November at Kenilworth. Money is a great persuader and the massive increase in "raider" numbers is down to generous financial incentives offered by Cape Racing as part of its current mega-revamp. Outside of…

The Summer Cup, one of Joburg's foremost horse racing events, is back. In 2021 it was held under Covid-19-regulations but this year's instalment will be the full-blown affair. This time about it has rebranded itself with a new sponsor, Betway, and it intends to attract different demographics when the event kicks off on November 26 at Turffontein…

The G1 Vodacom Durban July runs at Greyville Racecourse, South Africa on Saturday morning, July 6th, when Do It Again will attempt to become the fourth horse to achieve back-to-back wins. The four-year-old gelding also won the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate in January, earning a ticket to the Breeders' Cup World Championships where he can compete in the…

4Racing CEO Fundi Sithebe, Betway SA Country Manager Phillip Superamonien, 9-time Summer Cup winning trainer Mike de Kock, world-class jockey S'manga Khumalo, Southern African Association for the Conference Industry CEO Glenton De Kock, Destination Marketing and Communication Manager at Gauteng Tourism Authority Anele Mdzikwa and fashion label…

4Racing is pleased to announce Betway as the headline sponsor of the 2022 Betway Summer Cup, which will be held at Turffontein Racecourse on November 26. Johannesburg's flagship race will have the theme of The Golden Summer. Betway's sponsorship will see the stakes for the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup increase this year to R2.5m. The Betway Summer Cup…

The horses for the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby are listed in order of post position, with comments by Joe Drape and Melissa Hoppert of The New York Times. The morning-line odds were set by Mike Battaglia of Churchill Downs. (Note: International Star, who was to start from the No. 12 post, was scratched Saturday morning with a hoof issue.…

Rain In Holland won the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks at Turffontein on Saturday and in doing so became the fifth Triple Tiara champion. The Sean Tarry-trained filly was pushed all the way to the line by Light Of The Moon but in the end class prevailed, as did Rain In Holland, ridden once again by Richard Fourie. Going off at 9-20, the daughter of…

Some of South Africa's elite thoroughbred champions were among the 48 horses nominated to run in the R2-million Summer Cup when first entries closed on Wednesday. The Grade 1 race over 2000m is scheduled to be run on the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday 26 November. World famous trainer Mike de Kock has entered six runners, including…

The ante-post betting market for this year's Durban July is risk-averse, as they say in the financial pages. Jittery might be a better word, or perhaps poep -scared. Only one horse is quoted in single figures on the bookmakers' boards and remarkable value is for the taking among the 50-plus entries still in the race. The current favourite, at 8-1,…

The Brazilian rode in the trials at Sha Tin on Friday morning (16 September) and is again ready to joust with arch-rival Zac Purton for a 10th season after returning from Brazil, where he had surgery during the off-season. Slated to take eight rides, Moreira is confident he will soon be in peak condition after struggling physically during last…

There could be a sense of déjà vu at Greyville on Saturday. Nebraas and Jet Dark are poised to repeat memorable victories of 2021 - in the Gold Cup and Champions Cup respectively. These are just two of a host of important races on the card of the super fixture that rounds off the season. Nebraas is the reigning king of stayers and is heavily…

The return clash of Hollywoodbets Durban July 2021 top two, Kommetdieding and Linebacker, is just one of the many exciting sub-plots in what looks to be a vintage renewal of what is the most sought-after racing prize in South African racing. Former SA champion Gavin Lerena will again be aboard Kommetdieding, while Cape Town's favourite son Grant…