Johannesburg — IF THERE was a Nobel prize for horse racing, trainer Mike de Kock would surely be on the short list of possible winners.

When he retires in some three decades time, he will look on 2008 as the year that cemented his reputation as an international trainer.

That he managed to secure another home trainers title amid jetting all over the world to saddle runners in the top grade 1 races beggars belief. For the record, he sent out 121 winners here for stake earnings of R12,5m.

But it was his overseas forays that have made the press sit up and take notice. Two wins in Hong Kong with Archipenko and Eagle Mountain, continued success in Dubai where Sun Classique rose to the big occasion, a second in the Breeders Cup Turf with Eagle Mountain, and the same placing -- an unlucky one at that -- in the Arlington Million with Archipenko.

His association with 45-year-old jockey Kevin Shea was put on a sound footing -- no doubt a relief for De Kock after what is rumoured to have been a not-too-amicable parting of the ways with Weichong Marwing.

In Hong Kong, in the recent Cathay Pacific Cup, Shea managed to steer his mount out of trouble and race home to a memorable win and put the cherry on top of a decidedly profitable year. He was racing for $2,6m in the former British colony, compared to R2m in the Steinhoff Cup at Turffontein two weeks previously. He also won that race on the De Kock-trained Rudra.

Of course, De Kock makes no secret of the fact that having Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalafa Al Maktoum as his principal owner has opened the door to handling some choicely bred thoroughbreds.

Interestingly, Eagle Mountain was a Coolmore reject ("surplus to requirements" is how they apparently saw it) and, looking at the four-year-old in Hong Kong, one can understand their thinking.

An imposing horse Eagle Mountain is not, and De Kock told reporters at Sha-Tin (he is on first-name terms with many of the UK press) that when he first saw the horse he remarked: "You're not seriously asking me to take that!"

Next year, De Kock has set himself a target of reaching 2000 winners -- he is about 160 shy at present.

He says he would also like to reach the 70 mark in grade 1 races. It looks as big a certainty as night following day.