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April 23, 2006


Team Valor’s Irridescence Bounces Back to Win Hong Kong Grade 1,
South African filly Beats Ouija Board in $1.8-million APQE II Cup,
Mike de Kock-trained, Weichong Marwing-ridden Filly off to France


Irridescence sparkles while keeping Best Gift and Ouija Board at bay.
(Click photo for larger image)
Team Valor’s Irridescence won today’s $1.8-million Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin race course in Hong Kong in a thrilling three-horse finish.

Taking advantage of a paceless scenario, jockey Weichong Marwing sent the nearly-black South African filly to the front at once, set the pace and responded to assaults at the wire from Best Gift and Ouija Board to win by a head.

The Grade 1 victory was a triumph for trainer Mike de Kock, who was robbed of a chance to show the world the quality of the Caesour filly in last month’s $5-million Dubai Duty Free when Irridescence was withdrawn from the Grade 1 Dubai Duty Free after she bruised a stifle and suffered cuts on her hind legs after getting impaled on a metal fence in the paddock prior to the race.

Irridescence had been scheduled to go to John Hammond’s yard in Chantilly, France after the Duty Free, but Team Valor president Barry Irwin altered the game plan to allow de Kock a chance at the Hong Kong race, as the Kentucky-based racehorse syndicator felt the South African trainer deserved another chance at big-race glory.

“We feel blessed to have Mike de Kock train and Weichong Marwing ride for us,” Irwin said. “Mike is brilliant and daring. Weichong is the closest thing I’ve seen to Bill Shoemaker.”


Trainer Mike de Kock.
Team Valor bought Irridescence last season after she was Graded stakes-placed for a partnership that included trainer de Kock. The full-sister to current Group 1 winner Perfect Promise has lost only once since being acquired by the Kentucky-based ownership syndicate, reeling off three Grade 1 victories in the last year. She was voted the Champion Filly at 3 last year in South Africa.

Irridescence follows Ipi Tombe as the second international Grade 1 winner bought in South Africa by Team Valor. Best in 12 of 14 starts, Ipi Tombe won the 2003 Dubai Duty Free.

The following season, Team Valor also bought South African filly Crimson Palace, who won her debut for the stable in Dubai, after which she was sold to Godolphin, for whom she won the Grade 1 Beverly D at Arlington Park.

Irridescence now will head to Hammond in France to be prepared for races in the summer and fall in Britain and France, after which she may try Hong Kong again.

“Late in the fall she definitely will return to Dubai to be trained by de Kock for another tilt at the Duty Free,” Irwin said.

Team Valor has now won Grade 1 races on four different continents as follows: North America, Africa, Europe and Asia.

Additional reading:


Photos courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club website:


Prior to race, jockeys pose for group photo

On the bend for home, Irridescence on the lead.
Irridescence having reassumed the lead, bravely repels challenges.

Winning connections of Irridescence in the Winners' Enclosure
Steve Karlin accepts trophy on behalf of Team Valor.

More hardware is bestowed upon Team Valor.
Michael de Kock receives trainer's trophy.

Weichong Marwing receives jockey's trophy.
Winning connections stand for playing of South African National Anthem.