The Mike de Kock-trained Global View gelding Dave The King has walked away with the Equus Horse Of The Year award for the 2023/2024 season.
His groom Lwandiso Jevu was named Groom Of The Year.
Dave The King was bred by Gary Player stud and is owned by Messrs L M Nestadt & G J Player & Ralphs Racing (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Miss K Ralphs).
There were a number of horses who won two Gr 1’s during the season.
However, Dave The King was the only one of those to win two open weight for age Gr 1s.
It was revealed that after much discussion by the panelists he ousted his unbeaten stablemate Gimme A Nother for the award.
Lindsay Ralphs was the spokesman for the connections and remarked that behind a horse like Dave The King were many champions, including the breeder, the trainer, the groom, the farriers, the veterinarians, the jockeys etc.
Dave The King fittingly gave Richard Fourie the final win of his record-breaking 378 wins furing the season in the Gr 1 wfa HKJC Champions Cup.
