ARCHIPENKO : Mike de Kock equals his Carnival record in the Al Fahidi Fort

Archipenko, Kevin Shea and Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum
                                                                            (Andrew Watkins)

Archipenko announced himself as a live chance for the Dubai Duty Free after Mike de Kock landed his third Al Fahidi Fort, the feature race at the Commercial Bank of Dubai-sponsored card at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday night.

The four-year-old, who boasted Group 2-winning form for his former trainer Aidan O’Brien, now runs in the Asiatic Boy colours of HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.

The winner flashed home on the outside to see off Royal Oath and Lord Admiral, with the disappointment of the race Linngari - who was seeking a hat-trick of wins in this Group 2 contest - back in fourth after running a “flat” race according to Ryan Moore.

Mike de Kock said: “He’s improved significantly from his first run but it was hard to be confident when you’re facing a horse like Linngari.

“But he could run a really big race in the Dubai Duty Free, and there’s plenty more improvement to come from him”, which bodes well for a team which has already equalled its previous record number of wins at the Carnival, where they’ve posted three Trainer’s Championships.

The South African maestro, along with Saeed bin Suroor, has dominated at Nad Al Sheba this year, and was savouring his 10th winner of the 2008 Dubai International Racing Carnival.

Extract from Dubai Racing Club