Irwin and De Kock Have Kissed and Made Up for Dubai Trip

Posted to the web 22 July 2008 David Mollett Johannesburg HOLLYWOOD producer Gary Barber, co-owner of talented three-year-old Russian Sage, will know all about "kiss and make-up" stories. Perhaps the most notable is the late actor Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, who had a volatile on-off relationship. But now comes news that Team Valor chief Barry Irwin has made up with trainer Mike de Kock, and Russian Sage will join his team in Dubai. Russian Sage won the Cape Derby earlier in the season before Irwin, Barber and Larry Nestadt, chairman of the National Horseracing Authority, stepped in with an offer which saw the new owners gain instant reward when the son of Jallad won the Daily News 2000 at Greyville. Irwin had what he describes as "a blow-up" with De Kock some 18 months ago, which resulted in the pair severing their... [read full story]