Team Valor and De Kock split ways

Team Valor and Mike De Kock stables have parted ways. The successful pairing

had numerous horses of world class stature, including the likes of Irridescence

(SAf) (Caesour) and Ipi Tombe (Zim) (Manshood).

The partnership took Dubai racing by storm over the past few years setting

track records and capturing some of the biggest races in that region. Crimson

Palace (SAf) (Elliodor), one of the most talented fillies to leave South Africa, was owned by

Team Valor before being sold to Godolphin and then going on to win the Beverly

D. (G1) in Chicago.

"We both learned a lot that will help us in moving forward in international

racing and I will always have a good feeling about him because of the success

and fun we shared together," said Barry Irwin of Team Valor to SAHorseracing.com.

"As far as racing partners and trainers go, I have been racing for more than 30

years and still use my original trainer and have clients from my first

syndication. I still race horses with the first guy I bought yearlings for in

the early 1970s."

Irwin, whose Team Valor also owns American-bound Little Miss Magic (SAf) (Jet

Master), a South African-bred Group 1 winner, has transferred his horses from De Kock to a variety of trainers in

South Africa.

"Between Mike (De Kock) and Neil Bruss deciding to move to England, we have

had to move several horses in the past month," Irwin explained. "They were dispersed among Geoff

Woodruff, Ormond Ferraris, Glen Kotzen, Wendy Whitehead, Mike Azzie and Mike

Bass."