No Victory Moon match in commemoration run

Victory Moon has a special place in South African racing history but, surprisingly to many, he raced just once in this country.

- Mike Moon

He never won a Grade 1 race, yet he was rated highly enough to contest some of the grandest events in the UK and Dubai.

Tomorrow's Victory Moon Stakes at Turffontein honours a colt who played a major role in putting his homeland on the world racing map and helped build the legend of his trainer, Mike de Kock.

The son of champion sire Al Mufti (by the illustrious Roberto) and the mare Dancing Flower (by Dancing Champ) was born at Litchfield Stud in Western Cape.

Victory Moon was purchased as a yearling by the Mad Syndicate and put in De Kock's care at Randjesfontein.

The galloping talent was evident early on and he easily justified 2/1 favouritism on debut in a 1200m sprint at Scottsville.