Wild One Passes Away After Post Surgical Complications

Sad news has filtered through that recent Gr1 Gold Cup winner Wild One has passed away after complications following surgery.

His owner Sean Phillips announced on Facebook:

“It is with Great sadness that I post this message to all my friends and family that have supported my Champion “Wild One” He was my and forever will be my admiration of a champion Race Horse. I took the opportunity today of giving him minor surgery that would have relieved him of some of his discomfort he has been experiencing. Unfortunately in the recovery room after the operation he had a relapse and through much efforts to resuscitate him he unfortunately passed over. I will without doubt treasure the joy he has brought to me and my family. Nothing can compare to the wins he has had and the roller coaster experience I have had of receiving award upon award of his gigantic achievements only for him to dramatically leave the stage. I am gutted. I am nothing without my Wild One and am indebted to the limelight he so gracefully gave me. I will forever admire your achievements and make you pride within my family. Love you forever my boy XXXXX. Nothing will ever compare !!!!

“RIP Champ…Sincere Condolences SP”

After a phenomenal come back from a long break, Wild One had a brilliant racing season and crowned it all by winning the Gr1 eLan Gold Cup, also the first for KZN’s Champion Jockey Anthony Delpech. Deservedly, Wild One was award Equus Champion Stayer and more recently at the KZN Racing Awards, Champion Stayer.

Wild One sold at the inaugural Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale in 2011, bred and consigned by Scott Bros for R95 000. Wild One became the fourth Gr1 winner for his sire Mogok this season.

Out of mare Endangered Species by Sapieha, he earned a stake of over R1,777 875. His half-brother by Spaceship, Extinct, was a 7-time winner and placed in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint. The mare has produced five runners and five winners to date.

His full-brother, Save The Rhino who is already a winner and described as a very big horse – nearly 17h and highly thought of, makes another start on Saturday at Turffontein over 1800m for Ormonde Ferraris.

Beginning his racing career with Jeff Freedman, Sean Phillips bought Wild One back at a dispersal sale earlier this year for R200 000 and he was transferred to the care of Mike De Kock.

Wild one won four races and placed 10 times in total, including to Wylie Hall in the Gr1 SA Derby and Cup Trial Listed.

His wins include the Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, and he finished second last year to Wavin’ Flag in the Gr1 Gold Cup prior to winning it this year. That was his last start before his seasonal debut in June which saw him finish second to Puntas Arenas in the Gr3 Cup Trial, a fast finishing second to Bezanova in the KZN Breeders Million Mile and finally his epic win in the Gr1 Gold Cup.

Wild One was one of three Gr1 winners for the KZN Breeders on eLan Gold Cup Day.

Our condolences to his breeders Robin and Joyce Scott, owner Sean Phillips, as well as the Mike De Kock Racing Stable.