Major interview with former Dubai stalwart and son Mathew as they prepare to launch a new training partnership in 2025
It wasn’t the standout story of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup but the appearances of unheralded pair Isivunguvungu and Beach Bomb could have a lasting significance.
Although they both ran under the name of Pennsylvania-based trainer Graham Motion, they were bred and raced in South Africa, which was doubling its tally of starters at the end-of-year jamboree.
Neither horse won (or even placed), but they weren’t disgraced either with mid-division finishes. Isivunguvungu finished only two lengths back after a bold show in the BC Turf Sprint, while Beach Bomb was beaten 3½ lengths in the Filly & Mare Turf.
Those efforts were not lost on Mike de Kock, who has triumphed in more G1 races than anyone else in South Africa, and who not so long ago was perhaps the most renowned globetrotting trainer on the planet.
Dubai dominance
De Kock is perhaps best known internationally for his exploits as a dominant stalwart at the Dubai Carnival, where at one point he was the only person to give Godolphin a serious run for their money. He has also enjoyed top-flight glory in Hong Kong and Singapore as well as being a bona fide legend in his homeland, where he shone with South African legend Horse Chestnut among a multitude of others.
He is closing in on 4,000 victories – but things are about to change, as soon he will share any success with son Mathew, set to join his father on the licence in 2025 after four years training in partnership in Australia with Robbie Griffiths.
Make no mistake: the new team’s sights are set firmly on re-establishing themselves as a force on an international scale.
“I think there’s a big appetite in South Africa to race abroad and I think South African owners of good horses are going to be very keen to travel and explore the world,” says an excited Mike de Kock, relieved that the travel problems that derailed his foreign raids for the last 13 years have now been eased.
Due to fears over the spread of deadly African Horse Sickness, the European Union imposed stringent quarantine restrictions on equine athletes leaving South Africa. In March that ban was lifted, meaning the Rainbow Nation’s absence at international level is effectively over.
De Kock explains: “We got a little taste of it at the Breeders’ Cup, albeit we didn’t win any races, but they weren’t beaten far, so we got a benchmark on where we are at.
Quietly confident
“After years of no competition abroad, or very little, we had an idea of how far behind we are and, with the greatest respect, those horses were very good ones, but not the best. We’ve got to be quietly confident we can still produce a Thoroughbred good enough to compete at a high level abroad.”
There is energy and enthusiasm in De Kock’s words, which makes it hard to believe he came close to calling time on his glorious career until the prospect of the new partnership forced a change of heart.
“I think I’d pretty much made up my mind,” he admits. “I’ve been at it 40 years, so you get a bit tired, but having your son around does give you motivation. My daughter Kirsten is in America and my son was in Australia as it was, so I’d be doing a lot of travelling too – you want to see your grandkids.
“But I spent a month with Mathew in Australia and could see he was missing home,” he goes on. “He’s had a good time there, but the grandkids coming along has sort of pushed on that feeling of missing family.”
Mathew, speaking from Cranbourne on the edge of Melbourne, reinforces that point. “When my wife Monique and I moved here, it was just us,” he says.
“Now we’ve got Liam, who is two and a half, and Olivia, who is six weeks old. There was maybe a time when Mum and Dad would move here, but we decided it would be easier if we went home, although I probably wouldn’t have gone if Dad didn’t have a stable anymore.
“I’m lucky we can move home and be closer as a family, but also get back into the business again. From a legacy point of view it would be really sad if the De Kock name just ceased in South African racing.”
Mathew, 33, was initially tempted by the possibility of trying to become a professional golfer, but it did not take long for him to follow in his father’s footsteps.
“I got a scholarship to a university in Iowa, but went to work for Dad before it started,” he recalls. “I stepped into the stables that first day and wanted to be a trainer, not a golfer.”
Racing dynasty
Despite growing up in an all-conquering racing dynasty – Mathew’s maternal grandfather Johnny Cawcutt was champion jockey in South Africa – that period was his first hands-on exposure to a sport he is now immersed in.
“Igugu was there my first year,” he recalls fondly. “She was champion horse of the year in South Africa, so to be part of her so early was special, but there was also Vercingetorix, who won a Group 1 in Dubai, which was amazing.
“There are so many along the way and Lizard’s Desire is another. He was second in the Dubai World Cup and then went on to win the big Group 1 in Singapore.”
The aforementioned travel issues, Covid and other political and financial problems that plagued the industry – not to mention a strike that led to 300 weapon-wielding grooms confronting De Kock snr – had the family casting admiring glances in the direction of Australia, where they once considered setting up a satellite yard.
“I was tempted,” continues Mike. “It looked a good idea because we still wanted to be involved in Dubai. South Africa was a frustrating place to ship out of, so we thought of a base there and moving was in the back of my mind, but then Covid struck and killed everything.
“Mathew was offered a partnership with Griffiths, which was never planned, but at the time was a good thing for him.”
What will also be good for father and son is a healthier state of racing in South Africa. “It absolutely is,” Mike fires back when asked if things are better now than when Mathew departed.
“Racing was looking very bleak, which was another factor for thinking about Australia,” he goes on. “We were still ambitious and I had a son who was ambitious, but it was looking ominous here, ugly.
Passionate people
“Fortunately, there are passionate people out there who want to see the sport continue and there’s been a big uptake in the last year or two. Sales have been great and some really good things have been done with the race operators, while private people have got involved too and have tried to revive the business. I actually think South African racing now looks pretty good.”
Mike will be at the controls of an operation in Durban and a stable in Johannesburg will be overseen by Mathew, who “loved” his Australian adventure, but is guarded about giving away too many trade secrets on his return home.
“There are a few things I’ll bring back that I think are game-changing ideas in Australia that don’t seem to be happening in South Africa,” he suggests. “But I don’t want to say too much for everyone to jump on!
“One thing though, would be communication with owners, which is something they take very seriously in Australia, but is perhaps lacking in South Africa. You take a picture or video and push a button to send it to 20 or 30 people, it’s really simple.”
It might not be simple for Mike, described by his son as “ancient” when it comes to technology, although he has made training winners look easy since he started in the late 1980s.
That is something Mathew is determined to continue, firstly in South Africa before the De Kock name is back in the big time on a global stage.
“Growing up, I’d watch those overseas runners and it left a burning desire to do it one day,” he adds. “I’d love to get a team of horses together and take them overseas to showcase South African racing again.”
There are no arguments about that from Mike, who might once have been viewed as somewhat gruff and blunt, but now plays the role of contented family man to a tee.
Major blow
“It was a major blow when Mathew did go – I’ll make no bones about that,” he says. “When he said he wanted to come back, I thought to myself, ‘Why not revive this thing, get it going again and take it to the next level again’.
“I’d 100 per cent like to get back to where we were, but I’d love to stand here watching my son on that stage. That’s where I’m at right now. I’d play a part in getting him there and will always be that foundation, but he’s got to be the springboard and move with it.
“I’ve still got everything set up in Dubai, so all we have to do is arrive there with the horses. We definitely want to get that going again and I’m determined to see Mathew get to that level because I know he’s capable of being on the world stage.”
Asked what it would be like to see his son deliver a major prize abroad, De Kock replies: “Jesus, that would be like winning 100 Group 1s in one night! There are two things I want to see now – my son fly and South Africa fly on an international stage.”
If the conviction in his voice is to be believed, don’t bet against either happening.
Mike de Kock on three horses who made his name
Horse Chestnut: He whetted my appetite for the international scene and, after that, I was always looking to go abroad and compete. He was definitely the best I’ve trained – freakish. If you put him in a five-furlong race, you’d back him. If you put him in a mile-and-a-half race, you’d back him. He was a monster and I firmly believe he could have given Dubai Millennium something to think about in the World Cup if he hadn’t got injured, but that’s a moot point at this stage.
Ipi Tombe: I was lucky to get her and she was extremely good – good enough I felt to go anywhere in the world. I thought if there was a horse quicker than her, then I needed to see it. She got me travelling more frequently and from there, almost by error, we worked out our horses competed well at a higher level. We got more horses and attracted more owners; that success bred success and, if it wasn’t for her, I can safely say I wouldn’t have made the ballsy decision to have a go like we did.
Victory Moon: He’s worth a mention too, although funnily enough he wasn’t a Group 1 horse. He won the UAE Derby the same night Ipi Tombe won the Dubai Duty Free – and what an evening that was! – and we travelled him as well, running at Royal Ascot, and in the Eclipse and King George in England. He was one of those turning-point horses. I’ve had a lot better than him, but in terms of the moment and significance, he’s in.
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