Images courtesy of Mike De Kock Racing website
Globetrotting trainer Mike De Kock, a familiar face at Australian yearling sales, confirmed on Monday he will be setting up a satellite stable at Cranbourne, adding to his stables in South Africa and Dubai.
Mike’s son Mathew, who is his assistant trainer, will run the Australian stable when launched in the next 12 months.
In an official statement on his website, De Kock announced the plans.
“We’ve been going to Australia for a number of years and Mathew will soon be leaving to gain work experience in their industry, to pave the way. Australian racing is run in a very professional manner, they have great organisational acumen and integrity.”
“Setting up the new operation won’t happen overnight. There are many official and administrative arrangements to put into place, this could take from six months to a year.”
Mathew De Kock will run the Australian stable when launched
Top international CV
An eight-time champion trainer in South Africa, De Kock is no stranger to Australia, and has been a regular at the Inglis Easter and Inglis Premier yearling sales for decades. Many of his top horses have carried the Australian-bred suffix.
Champion mare Igugu (Galileo {Ire}) was bred by Kia Ora Stud and purchased out of the 2009 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $65,000, carrying the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa al Maktoum colours to major victories including the G1 Durban July and G1 J & B Met.
Redoute's Choice colt Musir was named Champion 2-year-old colt in South Africa, while Majmu, by the same sire, was Champion 2-year-old-filly.
Musir (Redoute's Choice) was named Champion 2YO colt in South Africa
De Kock made history when training full brothers Mustaaqeem and Rafeef, by Redoute's Choice from Champion South African mare National Colour and purchased off Arrowfield Stud at Inglis Easter, to Group 1 success on the same race card on Champions Day at Turffontein for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum's Shadwell Farm.
More recently the Shadwell Australasia-bred 4-year-old colt Soqrat (Epaulette) has starred for his team by winning the G1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes in March, adding to his previous two Group 1 victories.
De Kock's home training centre is at Randjesfontein, where wife Diane de Kock prepares the young horses. Son Mathew has been Assistant Trainer since 2010.
De Kock also has a permanent base at Blue Stables in Dubai, enjoying a fabulous record at the carnival including five Group 2 UAE Derby trophies, six Group 2 Al Fahdi Forts, four Group 1 Jebel Hattas, two Group 1 Dubai Duty Frees and two Group 1 Al Quoz Sprints.
Training horses in South Africa to make the Dubai International Carnival is no easy feat - the threat of African Horse Sickness means the horses are subjected to strict quarantine rules. In total South African horses spend five months quarantined and traveling at a critical time in their development, which poses added difficulties.
However, after concerted effort by officials in South Africa, export protocols are expected to open up in the near future presenting an opportunity for De Kock.
“We are doing this [stable in Australia] as a pre-emptive move for our exports protocols opening up,” De Kock explained.
“We are confident this will be happening soon. We have been doing things the other way around, focusing on importing horses from Australia. Soon we’ll be exporting from South Africa at an exchange rate of roughly 10 rand to the Australian dollar, which is a great opportunity and makes good business sense.
“We will also be supporting the Australian market as we have been doing.”
Tick of approval for Cranbourne
It’s been no secret in racing circles that the eight-time champion trainer of South Africa and his son Mathew have long been considering setting up an Australian base. In recent months they spent time doing due diligence on training facilities around the nation before settling on Cranbourne as their preferred option.
De Kock commended Australian racing authorities and officials at Cranbourne for their handling of the process.
“They have been unbelievably helpful. They are building us new stables with a number of other benefits included,” he said.
“They have been unbelievably helpful. They are building us new stables with a number of other benefits included." Mike De Kock
“The training facilities are excellent with everything from treadmills to good tracks."
Chief Executive Officer of the Cranbourne Turf Club, Neil Bainbridge, officially confirmed the legendary globetrotting horseman’s successful application.
“The club has offered Mike de Kock 50 boxes on course. We are very excited to have the Mike de Kock Racing team here in the future.
“He’s a serious trainer on the world radar and for him to come to Cranbourne and participate strongly in the Victorian Spring Carnival in the years to come will be exciting for everyone,” said Bainbridge.
“He toured a number of facilities in Australia and he and his son have chosen Cranbourne as the place they need to be. I think it’s fantastic for Australian racing and great for Victorian racing that he's chosen to make it happen here."
"I think it’s fantastic for Australian racing and great for Victorian racing that he's chosen to make it happen here." - Neil Bainbridge
The Cranbourne Training Complex is Victoria’s only purpose-built racehorse training facility with up to 800 horses currently in work each morning.
With the expected future addition of De Kock’s team of horses, plus the addition of Mick Price and Mick Kent Jnr relocating to the facility when Caulfield closes as a training centre within the next four years, the number is likely to reach 1,000.
The addition of De Kock's team and Mick Price and Mick Kent Jr numbers are likely to reach 1,000
“It’s a fairly large facility that currently produces one in five starters in Victoria and to have someone the quality of Mike de Kock based here is real vote of confidence. It’s great for the training ranks here and reinforces what a great facility it is.”
Construction of De Kock’s new stable complex at Cranbourne is expected to take 4-5 months.
Troubles in South Africa
While the South African racing operation will remain the stable’s main base for now, De Kock’s decision to expand into Australia sounds an ominous warning for the long-term future of the troubled racing industry in South Africa.
12 months ago, and in the wake of a groom’s strike, he publicly signalled plans to potentially reduce his racing stock by up to 40 per cent. The stress during that period wreaked havoc on his health and sparked serious fears for his family’s safety.
In a blog that he penned especially for his website, he wrote;
“When members of my family, staff and horses are threatened with death and harm it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. From now on, we'll be living in fear and uncertainty every day,” de Kock wrote.
“The experience of the last few days and the affects it had on my own and my family's lives, coupled with surprise, disappointment and disbelief, has brought me to a stage where I have to say that Mike de Kock racing is now seriously considering our position in South African racing.
“The experience of the last few days... has brought me to a stage where I have to say that Mike de Kock racing is now seriously considering our position in South African racing." - Mike De Kock
“I am not sure if these factors even matter anymore. It's enough having to deal with the Jockey Club and Racing administrators who haven't made life easy. The grooms issue has aggravated matters to a level where team De Kock feels like turning things up. I am asking myself, do we really need this?
“South African racing is in for a rude awakening.”
Victorian racing is preparing to welcome De Kock, who has trained more than 3,200 winners during his illustrious career, with open arms. So far, news of his plans to open a stable in the state has been met with excitement.
“It’s something that he has been working through for a period of time," said Bainbridge. "He has a few issues to work through and the club is providing him with every level of support."
“We will continue to work with Mike on timeframes. Construction will start when we can finalise those details.”
