Betway Ambassador Mike de Kock and son Mathew de Kock will take on the big guns in the Grade 1
L’Ormarins King’s Plate at HWB Kenilworth on Saturday, 10 January, with recent Green Point Stakes winner Dave The King and champion three-year-old colt, Jan Van Goyen.
Both runners were accepted this week for the power-packed 14-horse field in which Eight On Eighteen, the 2024/5 Equus Turf Horse Of The Year, makes his comeback after a six-month layoff. Other ace runners include Garrix, Sail The Seas and See It Again.
The M&M training partners have runners at four meetings, going into the New Year’s weekend, and Mat’s comments are below:
HWB Greyville, Wednesday 31 December, 2025:
Race 6, 1600m: “Curious Girl comes back off a rest and is better over a bit more ground. She will probably need the run, but she is a filly to follow.”
Turffontein, Thursday 1 January 2026:
Race 4, 1600m: “Buddy Boy was bumped, taken out in his comeback run so we couldn’t gather much from the race. We’ll be looking for a better performance from him, he warrants consideration in an open race.”
HWB Greyville, Friday 2 January 2026:
Race 2, 1000m: “Hey Diddle Diddle got a bit tired on her debut over 1200m after showing some pace. She should get a lot closer over 1000m and we give her a good eachway chance.”
Race 3, 1200m: “Beamonesque always goes out trying his best and enjoys racing around the bend. He has eachway prospects.”
Race 4, 1600m: “We expected better from
Gotta Go Eddie last time, but there was a valid excuse. He pulled a shoe in the race and was a bit lame the next morning. He is fine now, working well and hopefully he can bounce back with a good run.”
Race 5, 1400m: “Next Of Kin is not the worst horse in town. He comes back off a rest, we expect to see him run on. He is one to follow in future.”
Turffontein, Saturday 3 January 2026:
Race 1, 1000m: “I’m A Fireball is in good order, he ran a decent second, first-up after a rest and being gelded. A couple of strong rivals here, but he’s not without a winning chance.
Clever Trevor will probably come out after winning on Tuesday.”
Race 3, 1160m: “Trombolines will be scratched after his Maiden win last Tuesday.”
Race 5, 1600m: “A comeback run for
Step Into It. He will be in natural need of the run, and will be jumping from the widest gate, so we’re not expecting fireworks. But he, too, is a horse to watch as he gets fitter.”
Race 6, 1400m: “We were pleased with
My Lucky Charm’s run on Tuesday, he got going late and finished the race off strongly. If he’s returned well, we may leave him in this contest because he’ll be a Grade down on Tuesday and is likely to be competitive.”
Race 7. 1160m: “Calantha got too far back in the Grand Heritage at the Vaal last time and you can put a line through that. Back over 1160m she has an eachway chance as she is most effective over this course and distance.”
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