MIKE BASS : Dubai World Cup for Pocket Power

Mike Bass, Candice Robinson and Pocket Power
(Photos : Gold Circle)

Triple J&B Met Champion, Pocket Power, could be aiming at the $6million Dubai World Cup in 2010, so says victorious trainer Mike Bass.

Surrounded by well-wishers following Pocket Power’s historical performance in front of a 35000 plus Kenilworth crowd on Saturday, Mike Bass said he is considering a Dubai campaign next year.

Business Day racing editor, David Mollet, writes that Pocket Power, a gelding by Jet Master, is likely to be stabled with reigning South African Champion Trainer, Mike de Kock, in Dubai. Mike Bass had previously felt that the training tracks in Dubai did not suit his injury-prone star, but new facilities are near completion and Pocket Power could add to his bankroll, which now stands at R7.7million.

Saturday’s J&B Met was billed as a classic duel between Pocket Power and Dancer’s Daughter, and so it panned out as the pair battled to the line. Jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe displayed fine skill as he maintained Pocket Power’s advantage throughout the final 200m, to claim victory by a neck.

Justin Snaith, the bullish trainer of Dancer’s Daughter, had predicted that his UK-bred mare, a daughter of Act One, could topple Pocket Power, and shortly after the race he asked Mike Bass as to whether he would consider a match race in a few weeks’ time.

The retort from Mike Bass must go down as the quote of the season : Is there anything about this beating that you don’t understand?”

Pocket Power will now be rested before heading to the KwaZulu-Natal racing season, where he may again challenge for victory in South Africa’s most famous race, the Vodacom Durban July.

DUBAI RACING CARNIVAL : Mike de Kock and Herman Brown

Herman Brown and Mike de Kock
(Summerhill Stud)

The final Nad Al Sheba based Dubai International Racing Carnival kicks off on Thursday boasting the largest international field ever assembled to compete for over US$31million in prize-money.

With an increased number of horses from Japan, France and Saudi Arabia, the return of Australia as well as a strong contingent from South Africa and Great Britain, this year’s Carnival is billed as the best ever and promises to be a fitting farewell to Nad Al Sheba before the much anticipated move to Meydan Racecourse next year.

Having saddled three of the six winners on World Cup night in 2008, as well as runner-up Asiatic Boy in the Dubai World Cup itself, the South African contingent have a tough task to emulate their achievements from last year, but both Mike de Kock and Herman Brown have assembled their strongest teams to date.

With 53 Dubai Carnival winners and 8 Dubai World Cup winners, Mike de Kock, is undoubtedly the most successful trainer to date. He fields about 40 horses based at Nad Al Sheba this season, including last year’s UAE Derby winner Honour Devil and Asiatic Boy (Mike de Kock has won four UAE Derbies), winner of that race in 2007 and Dubai World Cup runner-up last year.

Both could clash in the 2009 Dubai World Cup according to their trainer: “Asiatic Boy did not settle in the UK last year so we brought him back to Dubai early and he is a lot further ahead in his preparation than 12 months ago as a result. He will probably contest the last two rounds of the Maktoum Challenge before the Dubai World Cup,” said Mike de Kock.”

Both Archipenko and Eagle Mountain who, like Asiatic Boy and Honour Devil, carry the familiar yellow silks of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, were Group 1 winners in Hong Kong last year and will be aiming at the Dubai Duty Free and Dubai Sheema Classic respectively.

Proven Carnival performers like Royal Vintage, Bennie Blue, Engrupido, Drift Ice and Frosty Secret are joined by a plethora of new recruits including South African Champion Sprinter JJ The Jet Plane as well as the talents of Imbongi, Hunting Tower, Rocks Off and Front House. Throw in the likes of Bankable, Stubbs Art, Macarthur and King of Naples from Europe, as well as the usual youngsters from South America, such as Blues And Rock and India Tiberina and it is easy to see why Mike de Kock feels his team is the strongest yet.

The same applies to fellow South African Herman Brown whose 13 Carnival winners to date are undoubtedly highlighted by Jay Peg’s win in last year’s Dubai Duty Free (a race Mike de Kock has won twice).

With stable stalwart Linngari retired, Jay Peg is the obvious star name this year but Herman Brown too has his largest ever team.

Herman Brown explained: “We have more horses this year and hopefully it is our best team ever. That said, the horses have arrived later this time which is not ideal and we may need a week or two to reach our peak. We have left a few here all summer to acclimatise, including Oracle West who has been a great Carnival performer for Mike (de Kock). Narc is another and he ran in the Sprint on World Cup night last year. We have some nice new horses as well with Guineas and Derby winner King’s Gambit perhaps the most interesting from home. Traffic Guard has been here before and did well in Europe, while Mourilyan won two here for John Oxx last season.”

Racecar Rhapsody from America, Lipocco from the UK and Basaltico from Italy are three others given a favourable mention but do not be surprised if further names are added to the Herman Brown stable in the coming weeks with his owners looking to strengthen their hand.

Summerhill Stud wishes both the Mike de Kock and Herman Brown teams great success for the Dubai Racing Carnival with some good old South African “Amandla”.

MIKE DE KOCK : Build up to Dubai Racing Carnival

Mike de Kock
(TDSports/John Lewis)

The month of December is not all about Christmas stockings and decorated trees for reigning South African Champion Trainer Mike de Kock, as it heralds the start of another preparatory phase in his build up to the Dubai Racing Carnival.

Mike de Kock Racing reports that the 2009 renewal of the world’s richest racing spectacle will represent Mike de Kock’s sixth sojourn to the UAE desert. Every year he’s had to match a terrific previous season but time and again he’s managed to better his own records with phenomenal spells of success.

In his five desert seasons so far Mike de Kock has saddled an astounding 63 winners from only 288 runners , capturing some of the world’s richest and most sought-after racing trophies against gruelling competition from the very best the racing world has to offer.

With 20 of those winners recorded in 2007, his best UAE season ever, Mike de Kock’s task seems to be getting harder, yet in 2009 his string will be 45 strong, more than twice the average number he’s trained at his Grandstand Stable Complex in his first five years.

With 19 inmates already in work with assistant Trevor Brown in Dubai and at least another 23 soon on the way on different chartered flights, Dubai 2009 could be Mike de Kock’s greatest carnival ever.

A Summer Cup winner, a Durban July winner, Derby winners, an Oaks winner and SA’s Champion Sprinter left Cape Town for Mike de Kock’s base at Newmarket, England, in October. They included Summerhill Stud’s multiple Graded winner Imbongi, Grade 1 winning three-year-old Rocks Off, Daily News 2000 winner Russian Sage, top class Oaks winner Front House, sprint sensation JJ The Jet Plane as well as sand stars Naples and Quicksand.

All, except JJ The Jet Plane and Breeders Cup Turf runner-up Eagle Mountain are expected to leave England for Dubai on 4 December. “JJ’’ and Eagle Mountain will stop over in Hong Kong en route to Dubai to contest races on the Cathay Pacific International Extravaganza and Mike de Kock said: “There is a quarantine issue which concerns JJ, but he has been officially invited to the Hong Kong Sprint and is being prepared for the race. The officials are bending over backwards to help us. Eagle Mountain will be going for the Hong Kong 2000.”

Trevor Brown said from Dubai yesterday: “All is well and we’re looking forward to a cracking season. Among the horses already back in training here are Archipenko, Asiatic Boy and Honour Devil, who have all had nice breaks and are starting to shed their excess condition, and Inca Noble, a very talented but injury-prone filly who is doing exceptionally well at the moment.’’

Among the Dubai stalwarts from previous years who are likely to race at Jebel Ali and perhaps Nad Al Sheba in the pre-carnival period from 19 December are Ablaan, gelded Limehouse and Drift Ice. In early January there could be races for the likes of Brave Tin Soldier and Trinity College.

New acquisitions already in Dubai are Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s Indian Tamburina, a filly Trevor Brown describes as small and laid-back, but with good ability, Zajel and Musaytit from Australia and Blues And Rock from Argentina.

Four recent acquisitions from Coolmore are also on their way and include Zulu Chief, a half-brother to boom sire Hawk Wing, and Macarthur, a brother to Racing Post Derby winner Motivator, by Montjeu.

“Royal Vintage, Lucky Find and another new horse called Stubbs Art landed in Dubai last Thursday,” Trevor Brown concluded.

CURLIN to stand at Lane's End

Curlin
(Thoroughbred Photos)

Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, will see the addition of reigning Horse of the Year, Curlin, for the 2009 season. Curlin will be joining his sire, Smart Strike, who currently stands at William S. Farish’s Lane’s End.

The four-year-old colt out of Sherriff’s Deputy, by Deputy Minister, will stand for $75,000.

The Thoroughbred Times reports that Curlin retires as the leading earner in North American racing history with a bankroll of $10,501,800, gleaned primarily from seven Grade or Group 1 wins, including the 2007 Preakness Stakes (Gr1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (Gr1) and 2008 Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-Gr1).

The stud deal was finalized while majority owners Jess Jackson and his wife, Barbara Banke, await a court ruling whether to approve their private offer to buy out the 20% interest of minority owners Shirley Cunningham and Bill Gallion.

“The Jacksons are due great credit for allowing our sport to enjoy this great champion as a four-year-old,” Farish said. “Many would have retired him after winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Horse of the Year honors as a three-year-old. Curlin’s performance on the track, his pedigree, and his conformation make him the most exciting sire prospect to retire in many years. We are honored to have him join his champion sire, Smart Strike, at Lane’s End.”

Smart Strike was the leading sire in North America last year when Curlin capped his championship season with a four-length victory in the $5 million Classic at Monmouth Park. Curlin’s triumphs in the Dubai World Cup, Stephen Foster Handicap (Gr1), Woodward Stakes (Gr1), and Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (Gr1) have helped push Smart Strike to the top of the general sire’s list again this year.

“After a stellar racing career, Curlin is now in a position to carry on his iron horse bloodlines at Lane’s End, the premier stallion farm in the nation,” Jess Jackson said. “He is one of the best examples of the breed - fast, strong, and durable. I predict he will make a substantial contribution to our sport through his gene pool, and I am looking forward to seeing his foals compete and possibly exceed his unequaled race record.”

Bred by Fares Farm Inc., Curlin will join 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy and 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft on the Lane’s End roster. Curlin, who finished fourth to Raven’s Pass in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on 25 October in his final start, likely will be a top candidate along with Zenyatta in this year’s balloting for Horse of the Year. He would be the first back-to-back winner since Cigar, the 1995 and 1996 Horse of the Year who Curlin surpassed at the top of the all-time earnings list.

“Curlin made his mark in the history books in so many ways: as a classic winner, as a colt who traveled to Dubai and captured the Dubai World Cup, and who returned to take three more Grade 1 races and tally record earnings,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “His physical and mental attitude is unparalleled and he retires perfectly sound.”

“Watch Curlin winning the 2008 Dubai World Cup”

SHEIKH MOHAMMED awarded Cartier / Daily Telegraph Award of Merit

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
(dailymail)

The Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award Of Merit is awarded to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the special 20-strong Cartier Jury, has/have done most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.

The list of past winners of the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit is as follows; Niarchos Family, Peter Willett, Henry Cecil, David and Patricia Thompson, Lord Oaksey, Prince Khalid Abdullah, John Magnier, His Highness the Aga Khan, Peter Walwyn, the Head Family, Sir Peter O’Sullevan, Frankie Dettori, John Dunlop, the Marquess of Hartington, Francois Boutin, Lester Piggott and Henri Chalhoub.

The 2008 Cartier Jury is made up of Michael Bell, Charlie Brooks, Alan Byrne, The Earl of Derby, Mike Dillon, Ed Dunlop, Douglas Erskine-Crum, Rod Fabricius, Philip Freedman, Tom Goff, The Lord Grimthorpe, Rolf Johnson, Sir Peter O’Sullevan, Leo Powell, Ruth Quinn, Brough Scott, Sam Sheppard, Sir David Sieff, Johnno Spence and Howard Wright.

This year’s recipient of this most prestigious award is horseracing’s biggest investor and benefactor, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Sheikh Mohammed’s contribution to racing and breeding has been enormous. His interest in the sport started in England over 40 years ago and it has grown and developed into a worldwide empire.

He may be known on the global stage as Dubai’s leader as well as prime minister and vice-president of the United Arab Emirates, but in the racing world Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is simply the sport’s biggest investor and benefactor.

Nobody in racing history has ever owned horses on the scale of Sheikh Mohammed and his equine empire is the culmination of an interest spanning more than 40 years.

While attending the Bell School of Languages in Cambridge, England, the 17-year-old Sheikh Mohammed and his brother Sheikh Hamdan went racing for the first time when watching the Noel Murless-trained Royal Palace win the 1967 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

A decade later he had his first success as an owner when Hatta, a 6,200 guineas yearling trained by John Dunlop and ridden by Ron Hutchinson, won a first prize of £968.60 in the Bevendean Maiden Stakes at Brighton on June 20, 1977. The filly went on to give Sheikh Mohammed a first Group success the following month when taking the Group Three Molecomb Stakes on the opening day of Glorious Goodwood.

It was the beginning of a passion for racing, first in Britain and soon globally, that burns even more greatly over 30 years later. He was brought up with horses. Descended from one of the most notable tribes in Arabia, Bani Yas, horses have been part of his life since childhood.

Bedouin culture and traditions are central to his heritage. The desert is a challenging, often harsh, environment so the ability to live in harmony with nature is vital to the people of the region. As a boy, Sheikh Mohammed learned to read the desert sands, to identify a single camel’s footprint in a herd of hundreds, and to understand the rhythm of nature, to be at one with the creatures of the desert.

Apart from tracking and catching scorpions and snakes, taming and training falcons and saluki dogs, it was horses that took up most of the young Sheikh’s time. He would share his breakfast with his horse on his way to school. Riding in his first horse race aged 12, he was drawn to difficult horses and earned a reputation for mastering impossibly wild horses, considered un-trainable by others.

Hatta may have been an inexpensive yearling purchase by Lt-Col Dick Warden, Sheikh Mohammed’s first bloodstock advisor, but the family were soon making their mark on a much bigger sale. At the 1979 Tattersalls Houghton Sale, trainer Tom Jones set a European record price of 625,000 guineas when buying the Lyphard colt Ghadeer for Sheikh Hamdan.

The Maktoum brothers also made a big impact on the other side of the Atlantic, regularly making headlines at the famous Keeneland July Sales of the early 1980s with Shareef Dancer, bought for $3.3 million by Sheikh Mohammed in 1981, winning the Irish Derby for the owner’s eldest brother Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum.

Sheikh Mohammed was keen to become involved in breeding and in 1981 bought first Aston Upthorpe Stud in Oxfordshire and then Dalham Hall Stud outside Newmarket, where Shareef Dancer retired at the end of his racing days. He also purchase Woodpark and Kildangan Studs in Ireland, after taking the advice of his long-term advisor, the late Michael Osborne.

The Sheikh’s maroon and white silks soon became a famous site on European racecourses, yielding success at the very highest level. Awaasif, a $325,0000 sales purchase, brought him a first Group One victory in the 1982 Yorkshire Oaks and three years later his home–bred Oh So Sharp won the fillies’ Triple Crown (the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and St Leger).

He enjoyed a great run of success in the Oaks at Epsom, via Unite (1987), Diminuendo (1988), who went on to take the Yorkshire Oaks, and Intrepidity (1993). Unite also landed the Irish Oaks in which Diminuendo dead-heated with Sheikh Mohammed’s Italian Oaks heroine Melodist.

Musical Bliss won another 1,000 Guineas in 1989 while there was also a 2,000 Guineas success in 1995 with Pennekamp, winner of the previous year’s Dewhurst Stakes. Meanwhile, Moonax (1994) and Shantou (1996) scored in the St Leger at Doncaster.

There were many other star performers during a golden era in the 1980s and 1990s including Pebbles, who won the 1985 Breeders’ Cup Turf, Coral-Eclipse and Champion Stakes after being bought by the Sheikh, Indian Skimmer (1987 French Oaks and Prix Saint-Alary, 1988 English and Irish Champion Stakes), Sonic Lady (1986 Irish 1,000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes, Sussex Stakes and Prix Moulin), Ajdal (1986 Dewhurst Stakes, 1987 July Cup, Nunthorpe Stakes and Haydock Sprint Cup), Soviet Star (1987 French 2,000 Guineas, Sussex Stakes and Prix de la Foret, 1988 July Cup and Prix Moulin), Sure Blade (1986 St James’s Palace Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes) and Sadeem (1988 and 1989 Gold Cup).

Other star names included Old Vic (1989 Prix du Jockey-Club and Irish Derby), Opera House (1993 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Coral-Eclipse and Coronation Cup), Belmez (1990 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes), King’s Theatre (1994 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes), In The Wings (1990 Breeders’ Cup Turf, Coronation Cup and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud), Sinsgpiel (1996 Japan Cup and Canadian International,1997 Dubai World Cup, Coronation Cup and Juddmonte International), Barathea (1993 Breeders’ Cup Mile and Irish 2,000 Guineas), Carnegie (1994 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe), Alydaress (1989 Irish Oaks), Arazi (1991 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile), Tel Quel (1991 Champion Stakes), Winged Love (1995 Irish Derby), Ensconse (1989 Irish 1,000 Guineas), Shaadi (1989 Irish 2,000 Guineas) and Hailsham (1995 Italian Derby).

But the 1990s also marked the start of a new phenomenon, Godolphin. Just as Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley breeding operation remembered one of the three founding thoroughbred stallions, Darley Arabian, so did his family’s fledgling new international racing stable, the Godolphin Arabian.

Simon Crisford, who assisted the Sheikh’s then racing manager Anthony Stroud, was drafted in 1992 to manage the small initial team who would winter in Dubai before returning to Newmarket in the spring. Hilal Ibrahim had a short spell training the horses but it has been Saeed bin Suroor who has overseen most of the success.

Balanchine brought Godolphin a first Classic success in the 1994 Oaks while a year later bin Suroor trained the unbeaten Lammtarra to win the Derby for Sheikh Mohammed’s nephew Saeed Maktoum Al Maktoum.

Dubai Millennium, who traced 25 generations back to Darley Arabian, became Sheikh Mohammed’s favourite horse when winning nine of his 10 starts, including the 1999 Prix Jacques Le Marois and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, and most famously the 2000 Dubai World Cup, the richest race on the planet created by Sheikh Mohammed at the Nad Al Sheba racecourse in his home country.

There have been a total of 145 Group or Grade One successes in 12 countries worldwide for Godolphin via such luminaries as Daylami, Fantastic Light, Street Cry, Sulamani, Dubawi, Swain, Sakhee, Doyen, Kayf Tara, Bachir, Halling, Dubai Destination, Ramonti and All The Good, who recently gave the stable a first top-level Australian success in the Caulfield Cup.

Alongside Godolphin, Sheikh Mohammed has built up his Darley stallion and breeding operation to be the largest on the planet. There are over 50 stallions worldwide based at Jonabell Farm in Kentucky, studs in Australia and Japan as well as the longer-standing British and Irish outfits still centred around Dalham Hall and Kildangan.

As well as standing home-grown stallions, Darley have invested heavily to get the best young prospects from elsewhere, among them New Approach, who won this year’s Derby in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed’s wife Princess Haya, 2007 Epsom hero Authorized, Teofilo, Manduro, Shirocco as well as many star names in the US and Japan.

Sheikh Mohammed’s purchase this year of US-based Stonerside Stables included ownership of Raven’s Pass (in whom he already had a share), winner of last month’s Breeders’ Cup Classic for Princess Haya, and Midshipman, who captured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and has headed to Dubai ahead of a tilt at the 2009 Kentucky Derby.

As well as providing employment, both directly and indirectly, for thousands in the horse business worldwide, Sheikh Mohammed’s contribution to racing stretches far beyond his own equine interests.

The Dubai World Cup continues to be the richest race in the world while next year the futuristic Meydan racecourse will be unveiled in Sheikh Mohammed’s home country to take Middle-Eastern racing to a new level.

Both Darley and Dubai-based companies such as Emirates Airlines and Dubai Duty Free sponsor a string of major races globally including the Melbourne Cup, Irish Derby, Irish Oaks, Champion Stakes, Dewhurst Stakes, Yorkshire Oaks and July Cup.

Sheikh Mohammed has made many philanthropic contributions, including the donation of £10 million to four charities following the sale of the Racing Post last year, the sponsorship of the stud and stable staff awards in Britain and the creation of the Darley Flying Start which helps young people gain a grounding in the industry on a two-year course.