Mike de Kock reigns Supreme on an afternoon of international flavour

For a racing jurisdiction which has been continuing in virtual isolation for the past few years, even the loosest talk of some international competition must be considered progress.

And it seemed timely that Mike de Kock, South Africa’s pioneer of taking his horses to the world stage, should be able to consider the prospect once again as one of the beneficiaries on L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Day at Kenilworth.

Once a regular winner, particularly in Dubai but as far afield as Hong Kong and with a satellite stable in Britain for some years, the multiple domestic champion is one of those to have been hamstrung by the restrictions imposed against African horse sickness, meaning that his runners must serve three months of quarantine in Mauritius, as well as further time both sides.