NAD AL SHEBA - The South African Flavour

Racing returns to Nad Al Sheba tonight (Thursday 31 December 2008). There is always a heavy South African involvement in racing in Dubai. Here is a run down of South African trained horses and jockeys participating at the meeting:

RACE 1:
Trainer Mike De Kock trains the Irish bred Drayton who is a game front runner and may place. The odds on the four year old is 6/1.

SELECTION: 1st - Canadian Danehill (8) 2nd - Drayton (1) 3rd - Sarissa (4)

RACE 2:
In this race Jet Express (25/1) formerly from the KZN trained Paul Denysschen yard is currently trained by A Al Raihe. Mike De Kock sends out Limehouse (16/1) and the Horse Chestnut colt Valiance (12/1). Limehouse looks to be the pick from the yard. Herman Brown has the Brazilian bred Yorokobi (33/1) in the race.

SELECTION: 1st - EA (6) 2nd - Limehouse (7) 3rd - Dijeerr (4)

RACE 3:
Mike De Kock has two South African bred and raced horses in this race. Bennie Blue (10/1) finished second in the Grade 1 SA Derby at Turffontein in 2006 and will be ridden by top KZN jockey Kevin Shea. His other horse is Kayak (7/1). Kayak was trained in South Africa by Paddy Kruyer.

SELECTION: 1st - Kayak (4) 2nd - Igor Protti (2) 3rd - Chinkara (10)

RACE 4:
The only South African connection in this race is the Herman Brown trained Hard Top (14/1).

SELECTION: 1st - L’Amico Steve (2) 2nd - Doubnov (10) 3rd - Mourilyan (16)

RACE 5:
There is no South African connection in this race.

SELECTION: 1st - Skywards (11) 2nd - Blackat Blackitten (8) 3rd - Gongidas (9)

RACE 6:
Top South African four year old horse Jay Peg (2/1) is aimed at the Dubai Duty Free was formerly trained by top Cape Town conditioner and former top South African jockey Basil Marcus. Jay Peg won the Grade 1 Cape Derby and Grade 1 Cape Guineas. He will be ridden by top jockey Richard Moore.

SELECTION: 1st - Jay Peg (6) 2nd - Davidoff (10) 3rd - Lord Admiral (1)

RACE 7:

Money Bags (8/1) is now with the Mike De Kock stable. He hails from Cape Town where he came second in the Grade 1 Cape Derby behind Floatyourboat. Whilst in Cape Town he was trained by Eric Sands. Kevin Shea rides. Herman Brown has Starpix in this race. Starpix was bred in France.

SELECTION: 1st - Dark Islander (1) 2nd - The Illies (9) 3rd - Money Bags (4)

Extract from SAHorseracing.com