IMBONGI SPEARHEADS SA'S ZABEEL MILE CHALLENGE

Imbongi
(Photo : Hong Kong Jockey Club / Summerhill Stud)

$250,000 ZABEEL MILE (GR2)
5 MARCH 2010

The highlight of tonight’s final Meydan race meeting before the Dubai World Cup on 27 March 2010 is undoubtedly the $250,000 Zabeel Mile on turf.

South African trainer Mike de Kock is aiming for a hattrick in the Group 2 contest, having taken victory with Kapil in 2007 and Archipenko in 2009, and tonight spearheads the South African challenge with the Warrior, Imbongi, and Hunting Tower.

Ed Marnane reports from Dubai that the Summerhill-bred Imbongi, sporting the silks of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum is to be piloted by Christophe Soumillon who will be seeking compensation for a narrow defeat to Bankable in the Al Fahidi Fort over the same course and distance last month.

Hunting Tower looks out of sorts on the evidence of his four starts this year, so is hard to fancy.

Useful Snaafy, who is getting 1kg from Imbongi, rates a lively contender, now that his connections have switched him to turf. Snaafy stepped back to 1600m after a dull effort in Round Two of the Maktoum Challenge over 1900m on Tapeta although he put up a smart performance when landing a valuable mile handicap in his Meydan debut last month, running out a convincing winner from Yasoodd and 10 others.

Fourth-placed Calming Influence gave the form a boost when running out a facile winner in his next appearance.

It’s by no means a two-horse race though. Last year’s third-placed Kalahari Gold, trained by in-form Doug Watson, is worth considering at longer odds. The five-year-old, who will be ridden by Tadhg O’Shea, has been knocking on the door all season and is capable of a big run in ideal conditions.

Godolphin’s Rio De La Plata, a Group 1-winning juvenile who was runner-up in the 2008 French 2,000 Guineas, has a plum draw in stall one and if fully wound up in his comeback, can’t be overlooked. He has had his problems, but a close second behind progressive Confront in a Group 3 race at Newmarket in October suggests the five-year-old retains much of his ability. He’ll be well suited to the prevailing fast ground, while 1600m is probably his optimum distance.

Catch all the action at 20:45 (SA Time) on Tellytrack DSTV Channel 232.

What they have to say :

Mike de Kock, trainer of Hunting Tower and Imbongi
“Both are fit and well. Hunting Tower always runs a solid race but has ground to find with Snaafy. Imbongi has run two very good races so far and deserves a change of luck. He should go close.”

Saeed bin Suroor, trainer of Rio De La Plata
“He was a very good juvenile when winning in Group 1 company and then ran very well in the French Guineas. He had problems at the end of that year but returned at the end of last season. He is ready for a run and pleasing us at home but he will come on from the outing.”

Richard Hills, jockey of Snaafy
“He impressed most people with his course and distance victory and we are looking at the Dubai Duty Free on Dubai World Cup night with him so this is an obvious race for him. He will run well.”

Doug Watson, trainer of Echoes Rock and Kalahari Gold
“Echoes Rock is a new horse to us this season and we are learning as we go with him. Kalahari Gold is a horse we have always liked and ran a great race in this last year. We expect a similar bold showing.”

 Jim Crowley, jockey of Without A Prayer
“He ran very well first time and his best turf form would make him competitive in what looks a good race.”

Fawzi Nass, trainer of Purple Sage
“We were delighted with her first run and we were left in front last time. That probably did not suit her so she should fare better but this is a better contest.”

Luca Cumani, trainer of Summit Surge
“This is his third start for us and first on turf. He won at Nad Al Sheba on grass last year and was a Group winner in Ireland also. Hopefully the change of surface is very much in or favour and he should run well.”

Alan Munro, jockey of  Ocean’s Minstrel
“He has been highly tried since arriving in Dubai and his last run was probably his best. The return to turf will suit but it isa tough race.”

Dhruba Selvaratnam, trainer of Yasoodd
“The conditions will suit as he is a real turf horse and the mile is ideal but he has a very tough task to reverse form with Snaafy. He is fit and well though and should run a nice race.”

Ryan Moore, jockey of Dunelight
“He is a nice horse but has a bit to find with a few of these.”

ZABEEL MILE (GR2) FINAL FIELD
1600M MEYDAN TURF

#	HORSE	AGE	WEIGHT	RPR	JOCKEY	TRAINER
1	RIO DE LA PLATA (USA)	5	57.0	130	L Dettori	S bin Suroor
2	ECHOES ROCK (GER)	7	57.0	122	P Dobbs	Doug Watson
3	DUNELIGHT (IRE)	7	57.0	122	R Moore	Clive Cox
4	SNAAFY (USA)	6	57.0	131	R Hills	Musabah Al Muhairi
5	OCEAN’S MINSTREL (GB)	4	57.0	115	A Munro	John Ryan
6	HUNTING TOWER (SAF)	8	57.0	118	K Shea	Mike de Kock
7	YASOODD (GB)	7	57.0	114	W Buick	Dhruba Selvaratnam
8	KALAHARI GOLD (IRE)	5	57.0	118	T O’Shea	Doug Watson
9	SUMMIT SURGE (IRE)	6	58.0	124	K Fallon	Luca Cumani
10	IMBONGI (SAF)	6	58.0	130	C Soumillon	Mike de Kock
11	WITHOUT A PRAYER (IRE)	5	57.0	128	J Crowley	Ralph Beckett
12	PURPLE SAGE (IRE)	4	55.0	118	O Peslier	Fawzi Nass
13	WORLD RULER (GB)	8	57.0	105	Res	Doug Watson

TIMEFORM GLOBAL TOP 30 RACEHORSES : NOVEMBER 2009

Sea The Stars : Timeform 140
(Photo : ThisLondon/Timeform)

TIMEFORM GLOBAL RANKINGS

#	HORSE	TRAINER	COUNTRY	RANK
1	SEA THE STARS	John Oxx	Ireland	140
2	RIP VAN WINKLE	Aidan O’Brien	Ireland	134
3	FAME AND GLORY	Aidan O’Brien	Ireland	133
4	GOLDIKOVA	Freddy Head	France	132
5	ZENYATTA	John Sherriffs	USA	131
6	CAVALRYMAN	Andre Fabre	France	130
6	CONDUIT	Sir Michael Stoute	Great Britain	130
6	GIO PONTI	Christophe Clement	USA	130
6	SACRED KINGDOM	Ricky Yiu	Hong Kong	130
6	YOUMZAIN	Mick Channon	Great Britain	130
11	MASTERCRAFTSMAN	Aidan O’Brien	Ireland	129
11	PACO BOY	Richard Hannon	Great Britain	129
11	RACHEL ALEXANDRA	Steve Asmussen	USA	129
14	DELEGATOR	Saeed bin Suroor	Great Britain	128
14	SCENIC BLAST	Danny Morton	Australia	128
14	TAKEOVER TARGET	Joe Janiak	Australia	128
17	AQLAAM	William Haggas	Great Britain	127
17	BIG CITY MAN	Jeff Mullins	USA	127
17	GETAWAY	Jens Hirschberger	Germany	127
17	HEART OF DREAMS	Mick Price	Australia	127
17	PREDATORY PRICER	Paul Murray	Australia	127
17	PRESVIS	Luca Cumani	Great Britain	127
17	TWICE OVER	Henry Cecil	Great Britain	127
17	VISION D’ETAT	Eric Libaud	France	127
17	WHOBEGOTYOU	Mark Kavanagh	Australia	127
17	ZACINTO	Sir Michael Stoute	Great Britain	127
27	ST NICHOLAS ABBEY	Aidan O’Brien	Ireland	126
28	APACHE CAT	Greg Eurell	Australia	126
28	ARCHIPENKO	Mike de Kock	South Africa	126
28	ASK	Sir Michael Stoute	Great Britain	126
28	OVERDOSE	Sandor Ribarski	Hungary	126
28	SUMMER BIRD	Tim Ice	USA	126
28	TARTAN BEARER	Sir Michael Stoute	Great Britain	126
28	YEATS	Aidan O’Brien	Ireland	126

CORRECT AS AT 17 NOVEMBER 2009

Mike de Kock armed for Golden Jubilee Dogfight

J J The Jet Plane, Ascot
(Photo : Daily Mail)

Mike de Kock and J J The Jet Plane have captivated the interest of the UK racing media in the buildup to Saturday’s Golden Jubilee Stakes where they will challenge for South African glory in the final Group 1 trophy of Royal Ascot 2009.

Following is an extract from yesterday’s edition of the UK’s Mirror, written by David Yates :

Royal Ascot
Saturday 20 June 2009, Race 3
The Golden Jubilee Stakes

“I feel the need… the need for speed…”

Australia plundered Saturday’s Golden Jubilee Stakes in 2003 with King’s Stand Stakes hero Choisir.

Two years later, the six furlong sprint - run at York while Ascot was being rebuilt - went to Hong Kong raider Cape Of Good Hope.

Now J J The Jet Plane is the bookies’ favourite to make racing history by taking the prize to South Africa.

But victory for the five-year-old would mark just the latest overseas plunder for Mike De Kock, the trainer who has made his name dispatching runners from his Johannesburg base to capture some of the biggest races on the planet.

A decade ago Mike de Kock came to Ascot with a view to sending his stable star Horse Chestnut for a clash with Europe’s top middle-distance cream in the King George.

The plan to run didn’t come off, but a sortie to America saw Horse Chestnut demolish his rivals in Gulfstream Park’s prestigious Broward Handicap - and Mike de Kock was bitten by the travel bug.

“In any sport, you want to pitch yourself against your peers abroad,” explains the 45 year-old Mike de Kock, who as a boy became fascinated by the goings-on at Johannesburg’s Newmarket racecourse, a couple of furlongs from his family home.

After a couple of years in the Equestrian Unit of the SA Defence Force, Mike de Kock learned his trade in the training ranks of his native city before taking out a licence in his own name in 1989.

“The ambition to run Horse Chestnut in the King George didn’t take place, but it was his win in America that whet my appetite for international competition.

“I came across to Ascot and I thought, ‘This is what I want.’ But you’ve got to have the horses to be competitive.

“Sitting in South Africa, you’re looking abroad and everything in America and England looks so big, and you’re almost nervous to have a crack at it.” The exploits of the ex-Zimbabwean mare Ipi Tombe, which included a track-record win in Dubai’s Group 1 Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night in 2003, established Mike de Kock as a force on the international scene.

“I felt Ipi Tombe was good enough to race abroad,” he recalls. “I felt, ‘If there’s a better horse, then I want to see it.” “We didn’t really know how competitive we would be until we took our horses abroad.”

“We thought she would be competitive, but I didn’t imagine she would win in Dubai like she did.”

Ipi Tombe was crowned Dubai Horse of the Year for 2003, while Mike de Kock topped the trainers’ list at its spring meeting five years running from 2004.

Last year he even improved Aidan O’Brien cast-offs Archipenko and Eagle Mountain to score at the highest level in Hong Kong last year.

But success at Royal Ascot represents uncharted territory for Mike de Kock, who recruited dual Group 1 winner J J The Jet Plane to race at the Dubai Carnival this spring.

A Group 3 winner at Nad Al Sheba in February, the gelded son of champion South African speedster Jet Master arrived at his summer base in Newmarket last month, before warming up for Ascot in a Listed sprint at Windsor.

J J The Jet Plane lived up to his odds of 4-7 by four lengths from Intrepid Jack, and Mike de Kock admits: “I would have been very disappointed if he’d got beat or struggled to win.”

“People have said it wasn’t a very accomplished field, but I’ve gone back on the form and the other horses have some pretty good form.”

“The second is rated 107 and we’ve given him 7lbs and a four-length beating, so J J’s got to be running very close to his mark and I thought it was a good win.”

“He’s a very straightforward horse. He’s got exceptional speed and he’s also got that kick, that stamina with his speed, that I think makes him a horse that is going to be competitive on the world stage.”

The nomadic life travelling from one major racing carnival to another suits Mike de Kock, who has no plans for permanent settlement in Britain, adding: “I’m very happy to follow the sun - it would be difficult for me to make a base because in the winter I don’t want to be here!” Weather-wise a British summer comes with no guarantees, but Mike de Kock is already an enthusiastic convert to the domestic racing programme.

“You get some unbelievable meetings here and some of the best horses in the world to race.”

“The Derby is followed by Royal Ascot, which gets followed up by the July meetings, which gets followed up by York - Jesus, it doesn’t stop!”

“If I’ve got a top horse then I don’t believe there’s a place in the world that gives you the same value as England does - as a stallion or broodmare prospect.”

“You really, really are spoilt for really good racing at the top end.”

Imbongi and Archipenko working well in Hong Kong

Archipenko (left) and Imbongi (right)
(Photo : www.racingweb.co.za)

Racingweb reports that Archipenko and Imbongi enjoyed a refreshing time in the wash bay after their Saturday workout at Sha-Tin racecourse in Hong Kong.

Mike de Kock’s runners are being prepared for this week’s Audemars Piguet QEII Cup and Hong Kong Mile respectively and assistant trainer Steven Jell tells racingweb.co.za: “Archie with Kevin Shea and Imbongi ridden by Jeff Lloyd worked together over 1400m on the grass track proper at Sha-Tin today (Saturday) and they were impressive.”

“We’ve had quite a lot of rain so the track is in good condition. They picked up speed from the 800m mark and completed the last 400m in an official 21.5s, very good. Both are looking well and we’re looking forward to next week.”

Mike de Kock himself will be jetting to Hong Kong within the next few days.

Archipenko and Imbongi arrive in Hong Kong

Imbongi arrives in Hong Kong
(Photo : Hong Kong Jockey Club)

News from Mike de Kock is that Archipenko and Imbongi have arrived safely in Hong Kong where they are set to do battle in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup and Champions Mile respectively.

With combined stakes of HK$26million, these two Group 1 races will witness an international field of top-class horses, come Sunday 26 April at Sha Tin racecourse.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club reports that, “this year’s renewal of the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup will feature two former champions in Archipenko and Viva Pataca and we are also delighted to have leading competitors from Australia, France, Great Britain, South Africa and the United States.”

“In the Champions Mile, we are delighted that increasing the race’s purse by 50 per cent to HK$12million has resulted in its strongest ever field. Four very interesting runners representing Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates will try to break a local stranglehold in this race but Good Ba Ba, the reigning champion and Horse of the Year, still appears the one to beat.”

“Audemars Piguet has been a terrific supporter of Hong Kong racing. This, in fact, is the 11th year for our partners, the master Swiss watchmakers, to sponsor the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup, the season’s springtime showcase,” said Mr William A Nader, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Executive Director of Racing. This meeting has clearly become a very important day of international racing which, I’m sure, will enthrall fans from around the world.”

Audemars Piguet QEII Cup Gr1
2000m
HK$14million (approximately US$1.8million)
Ratings Order

Viva Pataca - Six-time Gr.1 winner, including a comfortable success in this race in 2007. Completed his preparation for this event with a sound third-placed run from top weight in last weekend’s Chairman’s Trophy (HK Gr.2).

Archipenko - Scored readily in this race last year to precede a Gr.2 win in England and an unlucky reverse in the Arlington Million. Started favourite for the Dubai Duty Free last month but was never dangerous in sixth.

Presvis - Capped a fine Dubai International Carnival with a fine runners-up finish in the Dubai Duty Free from a wide barrier and looks to be still on the upgrade.

Niconero - Veteran winner of five Gr.1 races is in the form of his life. Has twice collected at the highest level and finished a creditable fourth in the Dubai Duty Free in recent weeks.

Packing Winner - HK Gr.1 winner of the Citi Champions & Chater Cup last year from Viva Pataca having run fourth in this event.

Artiste Royal - American-trained Gr.1 winner who was not tested when hemmed in on the rails in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup last December. Has since won at Gr.2 level in California.

Chinchon- Three times placed in French Pattern events, including once last year in front of Collection, the subsequent Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby champion.

Thumbs Up - Triumphant in the HK Gr.1 Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile in January and runner-up to Collection in the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby last month.

Bullish Cash - Triumphant in the HK Gr.3 Premier Plate last season and placed in the same race last month.

Viva Macau - Dual winner of the Ladies’ Purse (Class 1) and Gr.1 placed both locally and in France.

Roma Pegasus - Fifth in both the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas in Australia before similar finishes in the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile, Derby Trial and Derby.

Danesis- Runner-up in his last start in the HKGr.3 Premier Plate to leap to a triple figure HK rating.

Champions Mile Gr1
1600m
HK$12million (approximately US$1.54million)
Ratings Order

Good BaBa- Six-time Gr.1 winner, current Horse of the Year and defending champion of this race. His international rating of 124 for winning the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile is the highest ever accorded to a Hong Kong horse.

Egyptian Ra - Only two horses are rated higher in Hong Kong after his all-the-way success in the HK Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup from Good Ba Ba. He won the HK Gr.2 Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial in similar fashion.

More Bountiful - Shot up by 21lbs in the ratings - a record rise this decade - in the wake of his authoritative success in the Chairman’s Trophy (HK Gr.2) last time.

Alexandros- Career best performance last time out when third in the Dubai Duty Free on the back of two earlier wins at the Dubai International Carnival for Godolphin.

Armada- Former Champion Miler for winning the HK Gr.1 Stewards’ Cup in 2007. Runner-up in both this race and the Yasuda Kinen last year.

Fellowship - Placed in his last three starts, two of those at the highest level and knocking on the door of his maiden HK Gr.1 victory.

Imbongi- Dual Gr.2 winner and also Gr.1 runner-up in South Africa.

Collection - The new star of Hong Kong racing after his terrific triumph in the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby. Drops back in distance here.

Sight Winner - Most Improved Horse in Hong Kong last season and his consistency in the best local races has maintained the upward curve this season.

Dao Dao - Four wins last season for John Size in Hong Kong and a Listed winner in Sydney last weekend for his former trainer, John Hawkes.

Sir Slick - Six-time Gr.1 winner in New Zealand where he is known as the ‘People’s Champion’.

Unique Jewellery - Winner of the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby Trial and a commendable fourth in the Classic itself.

Gem Of Chiu Ton - Listed placed in England before arriving in Hong Kong where he appears on the verge of a breakthrough success.