'We’re going to open our shoulders and have a full go' - new look De Kock team among the recipients of Laurence Wernars spending spree

South Africa’s most famous international training operation has undergone a recent facelift and the new De Kock family enterprise maintained its momentum at the highest end of the CRS Summer Sale in Cape Town on Thursday.

Mike de Kock, the esteemed figure behind numerous Group 1 triumphs in the likes of Dubai and Hong Kong, as well as multiple champion of his homeland through such fabled names as Horse Chestnut, announced late last year that he would be joining forces with his son Mathew, who has returned to the continent to renew family ties after four years as part of a training partnership in Australia.

Not only did the De Kocks buy under their own steam here, they are expected to be the recipient of one of the two top lots of the boutique yearling auction, which were both by Vercingetorix and bought by big-spending Johannesburg-based owner-breeder Laurence Wernars and his Triple 8 Clothing banner.

"Let’s move onto business," said Alistair Cohen, Kenilworth’s commentator who was on announcing duties on the rostrum next to the racecourse paddock before handing over to auctioneer John O’Kelly.

Proud Mary, a Vercingetorix half-sister to a champion sprinter, takes her turn in the ring at KenilworthCredit: Chase Liebenberg

Lot 66, from Avontuur Stud, was a filly already named Proud Mary and her leading South African sire was coincidentally a horse with which Mike de Kock landed the 2014 Jebel Hatta in Dubai. Her dam’s side particularly caught the attention as she is a half-sister to Thunderstruck, the country’s champion sprinter last season.

The R1million marker is usually the point at which a sale becomes significant in these shores and Proud Mary reached that figure far more quickly than any other. 

The hammer eventually came down at R2 million (£87,500/€103,500) in favour of Wernars, whose advisors indicated she would be bound for the De Kock team.

That figure was later eclipsed as Wernars reached to R2.2million for Chestnut Verse (87), a handsome colt from Drakenstein Stud out of Group 1 Greyville Golden Slipper scorer Chestnuts N Pearls. A trainer is still to be decided for him.

Laurence Wernars took home the sale's top two lots in a major spending spreeCredit: Chase Liebenberg

"I’m very much into the breeding and we tend to send the young horses to the spelling farm and then make plans in three or four months when they’ve settled down," Wernars explained. "It’s always about the right horse and the right trainer."

Triple 8 ended up the sale's leading buyer with 11 yearlings bought for a total of R10,050,000

Of Proud Mary, Wernars added: "I’ve got the baby brother Nightrain, and now I want to get into the family, I like to spend my money on fillies and I don’t mind if they cost a little bit extra."

One way for De Kock team

The De Kocks had earlier signed along with Form Bloodstock for a son of the first-season firebrand sire One World (29) from the Winterbach Stud draft for R1.5million. The operation is currently split between Johannesburg and Durban but may well yet spread back to the likes of the UAE again.

"It’s the first horse we’ve bought for the new partnership, Mathew and I," said Mike de Kock.

Mathew (left) and Mike de Kock in conversation at the CRS Summer SaleCredit: Wayne Marks

"I really thought he was the standout horse here and the sire is a sensation. Very happy at the price."

Mathew added: "Since I’ve been gone my old man has been pulling the reins back and getting rid of horses, so there are small numbers now, but we’re going to open our shoulders and have a full go.

"He’s got a new energy about him, he was basically ready to retire but now he has a pep in his step. Everyone’s very excited and we’re very thankful to the support of our owners."

Theilers swoop for another Trippi

A familiar Drakenstein combination returned to the fore with a filly (55) who is a granddaughter of outstanding miler Captain’s Lover by the Rupert family’s retired former champion sire Trippi.

She was signed for by Jonathan Snaith, brother and a key part of leading Cape Town trainer Justin Snaith’s yard, on behalf of Rolf and Gloria Theiler.

"Last year’s top lot [R3.2million] was a Trippi called Clair De Lune, who is a very nice filly that’s running in the first race on Saturday," said Jonathan Snaith.

"They’re like hens teeth the Trippis, and this is a family we’ve supported. Rolf and Gloria Theiler, who bought Claire De Lune, have bought her. 

"They’re new owners who live in the city and are enjoying the sport. With the changes that have been happening here, they’re examples of the new blood that’s coming into the sport, which is quite a rarity in racing anywhere these days. Drakenstein are the record-breaking breeders here, so you know the quality you’re getting."

Comparisons on trade year-on-year are difficult as this was a much smaller catalogue compared with 12 months ago. The event was moved to Cape Racing Sales headquarters at Kenilworth from a convention centre in the city for a largely domestic buying bench. Another part of the premier yearling crop, with a larger catalogue featuring some later developers, will be offered in mid-March and some might even have chosen to keep their powder dry until then.

However, after a depressing period for the thoroughbred economy and the wider South African scene in general, the sport is undergoing a renaissance not only with nationwide investment in racing but the potential to trade again internationally after a ban on direct export to the European Union was lifted last year.

The average of R626,419 was reported by organisers to be the highest figure recorded at a South African yearling sale for nearly a decade and it stacked up well against R540,041 last year. Overall, 74 out of 86 yearlings sold for R46,355,000 with the median coming in at a healthy R500,000.

Read more

From Puchkine’s cat-like prowl to Zagrey’s float, my Route des Etalons was pure magic 

Mystery abounds as Peaky Boy tops Goffs UK January Sale at ‘undisclosed six-figure sum’ 

'He's in magnificent condition' - catching up with 2005 Derby hero and still active sire Motivator