Mike de Kock, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Yousuf Al Sayegh, Christophe Soumillon, Lizard’s Desire and Raihana
(Photos : Mike de Kock Racing / Andrew Watkins)

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL RACING CARNIVAL
MEYDAN RACECOURSE

What better way to honour the opening of the world’s most-talked about racecourse, the Meydan, than the “arrival” of two South African-trained winners in the first two thoroughbred races ever to be contested there. Mike de Kock’s Raihana and the ex Port Elizabeth horse, Lizard’s Desire, pretty much skipped across the new Tapeta surface, to register impressive first-up victories, and while he may have been tainted by the moment, Mike de Kock was quick to proclaim the venue “outstanding”.

It only took three more days before South Africa was celebrating again with Silent Jet’s Listed Stakes victory at the Jebel Ali track in the Shadwell-sponsored sprint. The seven year old son of Jet Master came home by half a length from some decent sprinters, ensuring him a Stakes success in every season since he arrived in the Emirate.