"SHE'S MOST CERTAINLY NOT A LOST CASE. FAR FROM IT!" - DE KOCK

Click above to watch the Jebel Hatta (Group 1)
(Image and footage : Dubai Racing Meydan)

US$300,000 JEBEL HATTA (Group 1)
Meydan, Turf, 1800m
9 March 2013

Igugu, the international favourite for Saturday’s Group 1 Jebel Hatta over 1800m on turf at Meydan, disappointed her legion of followers again when failing to make the frame behind the winner, Sajjhaa.

Setting aside the fact that Igugu looked well on parade, ran a promising race up to a point and actually improved significantly at the turnaround in weights with Sajjhaa (she was only beaten three lengths), Mike de Kock has chosen to put matters in perspective for Igugu’s swell of supporters without going into academic race detail.

He said after the race on Saturday evening: “There have already been a few armchair critics who have written Igugu off, but I want to note that I am not concerned about what we’ve seen from her in her two races here in Dubai. I want to set the troubled minds to rest. There are factors which have contributed to Igugu’s below-par runs, they are things we all have to keep firmly in mind. She’s most certainly not a lost case. Far from it!”

Read more about
Mike de Kock’s perspective on Igugu in Dubai…

EMIRATES SUPER SATURDAY 2013

Emirates Airline - Official Dubai World Cup Sponsor
(Image : The Original Top 10)

EMIRATES AIRLINE SUPER SATURDAY
Meydan, Dubai
9 March 2013

A total of six group races go to post on Super Saturday tomorrow, 9 March, with the concluding rounds of the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge for Thoroughbreds and Purebred Arabians taking pride of place on an Emirates Airline-sponsored eight-race card worth a total of US$1,775m in prize money. Emirates Airline will also sponsor of the Group 1 $10m Dubai World Cup on 30 March, a race now in its eighteenth year.

The second biggest meeting of the season, Super Saturday is the traditional dress rehearsal for Dubai World Cup day. A valuable and high-class card in its own right, Super Saturday is scheduled three weeks before Dubai World Cup day to allow horses that compete on both days to recuperate before the $27.25m Dubai World Cup day.

The quality of Super Saturday as a standalone raceday was strengthened last season when two races on the programme were elevated to Group 1 status - the third round of the Al Maktoum Challenge and the Jebel Hatta, which are used as prep races by many trainers aiming horses at the Dubai World Cup and Dubai Duty Free respectively.

“This is well-known as a precursor to the Dubai World Cup and gives race-goers the opportunity to see some of the horses that will be running during the world’s richest race meeting on March 30,” said Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations - Gulf, Middle East and Iran.

Malih Al Basti, Meydan Group Board Member and Chairman of Meydan Racing Committee said: “Emirates Airline are Meydan Group Pillar Partners and as such have long offered committed and much-valued support to racing in Dubai. The airline, which has also been associated with the $10m Dubai World Cup since the race’s inception eighteen years ago, has always demonstrated a far-sighted approach to the development of horseracing. As one of the longest-serving supporters of the sport in this country, Emirates Airline has been instrumental in the rise to huge global prominence of Super Saturday, the Dubai World Cup Carnival and of course Dubai World Cup day itself.”

Extract from Dubai Racing Club

For more information, please visit :

www.emiratesracing.com

IMBONGI - BIGGEST EARNER AT DUBAI RACING CARNIVAL 2010

Click above to watch Imbongi - Biggest Earner at Dubai Racing Carnival 2010
(An iKind Media Production 2011)

THE EMPERORS PALACE
READY TO RUN SALE

“There’s a horse for everyone at the Ready To Run.”

Cost R70,000.
Earnings R8,887 Million. 

The Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale
Sunday 6th November

*Six cheque payment scheme for qualifying buyers.

Enquiries :
Tarryn Liebenberg +27 (0) 83 787 1982
or email tarryn@summerhill.co.za
www.summerhill.co.za

DUBAI FLASH : ANOTHER BIG NIGHT FOR SOUTH AFRICA

Mike de Kock and Christophe Soumillon
(Image : SA Pride/HKJC)

MIKE DE KOCK
DUBAI INTERNATIONAL RACING CARNIVAL

Mike de Kock is a legend in Dubai, but that probably also applies to most parts of the world. It was here that he first really made his international mark, having been the Champion Trainer in the Emirates on several previous occasions. By any of his best standards though, five winners in the first two meetings this year, including both the Guineas Trials (for fillies and colts), would have to be rated alongside his best.

Chatting to him about Imbongi’s condition for this evening’s Jaguar XJ Trophy, he mentioned how pleased he was at the Trial victories, suggesting Musir could well be up with the best three-year-colts currently in Dubai, while Raihana could be something special. That’ll warm the hearts of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa’s team, for sure.

Multiple champion French jockey, Christophe Soumillon, takes the ride on Imbongi, whom De Kock says has been working well on the Tapeta surface, though it remains to be seen what he’ll be like under race conditions. He does say though, that the horse is only 85% fit, and having to give up to 7kgs to the field, his performance is going to hinge to a fairly significant degree, on his fitness.

He runs over seven furlongs, the trip at which he demolished five Grade One winners in the Drill Hall Stakes (Gr.2) as a three year old during the Durban season, so that’s not a problem; we’ll have our eyes glued on Tellytrack (Channel 232) at 19:10 pm this evening.

SPARE A THOUGHT

Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum
(Photo : Summerhill Stud)

HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN KHALIFA AL MAKTOUM

There’s been a lot said about Dubai in the financial press of late, and people have been concerned. None less so than the Ruling Family of that country. One man though, for all his responsibilities, who never lies down in spirit at least, is His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifah Al Maktoum. To put him into perspective, his father was the elder brother of Sheikh Rashid, father of Sheikh Mohammed, the present ruler and Sheikh Hamdan, his deputy.

In years, “our” Sheik Mo, of Imbongi, Art Of War, Galant Gagnant and Asiatic Boy fame, is the senior Sheikh, and his great friend is Sheikh Hamdan, now in his 20^th year of support at Summerhill. We took a moment this morning to share our strength with Sheikh Mohammed and his team, for an early resolution to the problems of his region. But you have to know the man to understand his spirit. “Indomitable” is a word that comes to mind. To make the load a little easier, ever the sportsman, His Highness is going trout fishing. A small trip to big sky country, to Argentina and a few more of the horses he gets up for in the morning.

Here is a man whom all horsemen look to for a benchmark. Winning or losing, he takes them both the same. The sport is all that matters. His generosity knows no bounds. Importantly, his friendship is pervasive.

And his wishes for a happy and fulfilling New Year, are extended to everyone in the Summerhill parish.

Tight lines, Your Highness. We know the Rio Corentasa, and we’ve seen those submarines. We look forward to the tales.