Irish Flame (left): De Kock champion in winning form at Greyville in June

  PICTURE: goldcircle.co.za  

Irish Flame named SA horse of year for De Kock

South Africa: Mike de Kock's runaway South African Derby winner Irish Flame has been voted the country's horse of the year at the annual Equus awards ceremony.

The colt, part-owned by Derby-sponsoring Investec boss Bernard Kantor, also won the Grade 1 Daily News and Grade 2 Gold Circle Derby.

He was beaten a length when conceding a poundto stable companion Bold Silvano in last month's Durban July.

De Kock said: "This is the one award  that really crowns a season for any South African trainer. It makes it all extra-special and I am grateful for the recognition of the stable's achievements."

De Kock and his horses won a record nine Equus awards, including one for himself as champion trainer, at a ceremonyin Johannesburg on Thursday evening.

Irish Flame and Bold Silvano (voted champion middle-distance horse) head the trainer's team going into quarantine in Cape Town next week in preparation for their assault on the 2011 Dubai Carnival.

Mahbooba (champion two-year-old filly) and Here To Win (champion three-year-old filly) also go to Dubai but Mother Russia (champion older filly/mare) stays at home.

There was no award for Pocket Power, horse of the year in the previous three seasons, but his dam Stormsvlei was voted broodmare of the year.

She is also the dam of J & B Met winner River Jetez, who shortly leaves Mike Bass to join the de Kock Dubai raiding party.

J J The Jet Plane, scintillating winner of his only two races since returning from his rather disappointing British campaign, was voted both champion sprinter and champion older horse.

Hear The Drums earned the outstanding achievement award for setting a new South African record for races won.

Other award winner included Link Man (champion two-year-old colt), Ascot Stud (breeder of the year) and Dynasty (outstanding stallion achievement).

The awards were decided by a panel that included former Plumpton chief executive Patrick Davis, now boss of Turffontein and the other Phumelela-owned courses.