Dan De Wet, forever remembered in the South African racing industry for breeding the mighty Pocket Power, has passed away.
Dan matriculated at the Diocesan College and after Naval training, he studied animal husbandry and viticulture at Elsenburg. He spent six months learning the tricks of the stud trade with Christie Grassick at Coolmore Stud (getting to watch The Minstrel win the Epsom Derby), before joining his father Paulie De Wet at the family’s Zandvliet Stud 1977. During their time together, the father and son team produced the likes of Smackeroo, Moccasin, Harry Hill, Susan’s Dream, Amberlad, Coolstar, Bloodline Million winner Fast Gun and their second J&B Met winner, Wild West in 1986
Since taking over Zandvliet, Dan produced his share of equine stars, headed by the unforgetable Pocket Power (Jet Master-Stormsvlei). Dan purchased Stormsvlei (Prince Florimund -Distant Echoes) for R20 000 at the 1998 Natal Broodmare Sale. In an interview with Sporting Post, Dan described Stormsvlei as “She was an average-looking mare, but what attracted me was the genetic make-up of her pedigree, because it was compatible with a whole lot of top stallions.” Stormsvlei would go on to be named Equus Champion Broodmare in both 2008 and 2010.
Not only did Stormsvlei produce the globetrotting Met winner River Jetez (a mating which Dan planned), but she also produced one of the finest South African racehorses seen in many a year in the form of Pocket Power. Sired by Jet Master, as was River Jetez, Pocket Power was South Africa’s Horse Of The Year in 2007, 2008 and 2009, and he captured eight Equus Awards in total.
The outstandingly tough and courageous Pocket Power won nine G1 races, and won the G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate four years running and the G1 J&B Met three years in a row. The gelded champion also scored a memorable dead-heat win, with Dancer’s Daughter, in the 2008 G1 Vodacom Durban July.
Other top-class horses that Dan bred include Hammie’s Hooker and Trip Tease. The former, Equus Champion Older Filly/Mare of 2014-2015, won 10 races, five of which were graded stakes, while star sprinter Trip Tease won 15 races (he reeled off 8 wins in a nine race streak), including the 2015 G3 Lebelo Sprint.
After selling Zandvliet Stud, Dan continued to breed under the name of Heritage Stud, where, among others, he bred multiple graded stakes winner Shango.

Dan is survived by his wife Kosie and four children Jeanne, Sadie, Emma and Daniel.