Kochka caused a 25/1 upset on debut over 1000m at Scottsville when beating subsequent Gr 1 winner Captain Of All. He then finished fourth in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Medallion behind Captain Of All over 1200m at Scottsville, before exacting revenge in the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day, where he went down by a hair’s breadth to Forest Indigo with Captain Of All a further 0,25 lengths back in third.

He then clinched the champion colt award when beating Forest Indigo by 0,75 lengths to win the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m on Gold Cup day.

All of those runs were in 2013 and he was then given a deserved rest. However, he rapped a tendon in training in March this year shortly before his comeback and the veterinarian advised a long rest as a precautionary measure.

Upon his return to Summerveld he was “hacked” for about a month and has now just begun light workouts.

The Wrights expect him to be racing again in about March next year.

The dark bay lost none of his good looks during his forced holiday and race fans will be looking forward to seeing his long stride in action again during the Champions Season.