MK’S Pride (Willow Magic) was given a tough work regime leading up to his victory in Saturday’s Grade 1 wfa Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein Standside to ensure he would stay the trip and responded like one would have expected from this courageous four-year-old colt.

Trainer Paul Peter said, “Whatever we threw at him, he took it.”

Peter had looked back at last season’s WSB Guineas and was hopeful he could get close to Kommetdieding in the Horse Chestnut. He had not travelled well down to Durban for that race and was not himself and yet had finished on top of Linebacker, Seeking The Stars, Kommetdieding and Russian Rock. 

He praised Muzi Yeni for a fine ride on Saturday and said, “He put him to sleep and was very patient and it paid off. He rode an exceptionally good race.”

Peter recalled the first time he met MK “Koos” Nkale, who has become well known to South African fans because of the fairytale story behind the first horse he has ever owned, MK’s Pride, and his passionate pre and post-race interviews.

Peter recalled, “I was walking into the Vaal racecourse before a race meeting one day and he approached me and said he wants to bring a horse to me. I asked where the horse was now and he said with another trainer at The Vaal. I don’t like to ever take horses off other yards so I asked him to give the trainer a chance.”

They debated back and forth but Nkale insisted he wanted to bring the horse to the Peter yard and if he said no he would take him somewhere else.

Peter recalled MK’s Pride still being an “unfinished article” upon arrival but said in his pace work he showed natural ability.

He was also impressed with his action and added, “David Payne had a top horse called Spanish Pool and I had always wanted to train a horse who had that same head-in-the-chest action. MK’s Pride has got that action and he just ploughs through the ground. All horses should ideally run with their heads down because they are then using themselves properly and it helps develop their engine (the hindquarters). The engine is where the power comes from. Horses who run with their heads in the air will not develop their engines as much.”

He also spoke of MK’S Pride’s gentlemanly nature.

Koos came to the yard to visit him today and one of his sons was actually able to sit on MK’s Pride in his stable.

“He is a massive horse and is still a colt but he just stood there like a lamb,” said Peter.

He said Koos was a great man to train for and added, “His two passions are racing and soccer. He lives in Pretoria and has been punting in the Totes, just small amounts, for about 40 years so he understands racing. He is God-fearing and is a pleasure to train for.”

Koos’s family have become avid racing fans through MK’s Pride.

He thanked his family in the winner’s enclosure on Saturday for conducting an all night vigil for the horse on the eve of the race race.

“And the Prayers were answered,” said the retired school teacher. 

MK’s Pride runs in the colours of Koos’s beloved Kaizer Chiefs. 

MK’s Pride could be called ‘the galloping tank’ such is his width and strength, but he will nevertheless stick to the mile and his next target is the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge on June 11.

Peter said he might go straight into that race rather than running in the Grade 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes first because he did not want to bring him down in trip and then go up again. 

The yard also won the Grade 3 WSB Man O’ War Sprint over 1100m with Rafeef colt Master Archie who was ridden by Gavin Lerena.

They think highly of him and he will now run in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint a race their top filly Big Burn (Elusive Fort) will probably also go for.  

Picture: JC Photos.