Molly interviews Mike De Kock
Mike de Kock, who saddles Alyaasaat (Bernard Fayd’herbe) and Soqrat (Randall Simons) on Saturday, last won the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes a decade ago with the Orpen colt Rocks Off, who was purchased in Argentina by Jehan Malherbe and raced for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum. He was ridden by Kevin Shea.
Now retired, Kevin Shea rode Rocks Off for Mike de Kock
De Kock’s previous winner in this race was present day Yellow Star Stud stallion Kildonan (Rich Man’s Gold), who won the race in 2006 under Weichong Marwing.
The race switched from Clairwood to Greyville in 2010 when won by Sean Tarry’s soldier, Gold Onyx (Black Minnaloushe), ridden by Felix Coetzee.
Tarry, who is represented by the smart Cirillo on Saturday, also won the race with The Hangman (Silvano) who was piloted to victory in 2012 by the evergreen Piere Strydom.
Gunner wins the Premiers Champion Stakes – 2016
KZN-based horses, not always dominant in Gr1 events, have a fair record in the race, having won it with Kochka (2013) for Alyson Wright, Harry’s Son (2014) for Paul Lafferty and the enigmatic Gunner (2016) for Paul Gadsby.
The latter is a son of Gimmethegreenlight, who is represented by Crown Guardian on Saturday.
Potala Palace – won in 2011
Mike Azzie, who saddles Avontuur-bred Whitehaven (Var) on Saturday, also won the race with present day Highlands stallion Potala Palace (Singspiel) in 2011 – when Gimmethegreenlight ran third – and in 2015 with Rabada.
The latter is a son of Brave Tin Soldier – who is represented by Summerhill-bred Checkpoint Charlie on Saturday.
