'Hungry' father and son aim for a fast start at the Guineas

It's Guineas Day and it's the first leg of The Championships season in Joburg. But the main significance of today's meeting at Turffontein is the appearance on the big stage of the De Kock father and son team.

- Mike Moon

Mike de Kock is South Africa's most famous racehorse trainer, having put the country on the racing map with his winning exploits around the world.

His son Mathew was his very successful understudy, as the old man travelled the globe, before heading to Australia and making an important mark for himself in that wildly competitive arena.

The De Kocks getting together as "M/M de Kock" is no small matter in the local game. Newly arrived home, Mathew has made no bones about his ambition. "I have come home with a big tool bag, so to speak," declared the 33-year-old in a recent interview on Gallop TV's In The Box Seat about the invaluable experience of a five-year sojourn Down Under.

"We have the world at our feet," he said, in reference to the recovery of the SA racing industry and the opening up of thoroughbred export opportunities.