DESERT TUNES : THE M.F. DE KOCK MACHINE ROLLS ON

Click above to watch Bold Silvano winning the 2010 Vodacom Durban July (Gr1)
(Image : Gold Circle - Footage : SABC 3)

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL RACING CARNIVAL
2011 UPDATE

There’s been quite a bit of comment recently on this site about the racing in Dubai at this season’s carnival, and which horses are likely to run where. We were on the line with Mike de Kock earlier, about our own horse, Imbongi, whom he says is likely to take his place in the Godolphin Mile (Gr.2) on World Cup night. Mike thinks he’s pretty much booked his place already with his excellent performance in the Dubai Duty Free (Gr.1) and his follow up runs this year, but feels he’s better off on the more forgiving surface of the tapeta, now that he’s in his third season in Dubai.

Exactly which horses will go to the Duty Free remains to be settled, but Raihana we guess, could be one of them. It’s really his hand in the big race though (for $10 million again this year) that gets the juices going. Bold Silvano has already booked his passage, while Musir’s strong first up run last week, suggests he’s on track for the Dubai World Cup as well. We don’t really think it’s a choice between Mr. Brock and Golden Sword, as has been suggested. The former might not make the cut, but Mike seems to think that Golden Sword might be an even better horse on the tapeta than he is on the turf, some statement for a horse that won the Chester Vase in England, and then ran big in both the Epsom and Irish Derbys in 2009. One of our correspondents said he’d go with Golden Sword, and we agree, while it’s possible Mr.Brock could run for the $5million of the Sheema Classic over 2400m instead. That’s not what Mike said (we didn’t discuss Mr.Brock with him), so it’s just a personal observation.

Whichever way you look at it, the M.F. de Kock machine rolls on, and the pickings are looking juicer every day.

IS THIS FOR REAL, OR ARE WE JUST DREAMING?

Click above to watch Imbongi winning the Zabeel Mile (Gr2)
(Photo : Andrew Watkins/ERA - Footage : Tellytrack)

…FISANI, PIERRE JOURDAN, IMBONGI, SMANJEMANJE
…AND VANGELIS?

Just a week ago, the Summerhill team was rocked by the successes of Fisani and Pierre Jourdan respectively in the Gauteng Fillies and Colts Guineas, though it was not for a lack of faith in the horses themselves, but because you can never count on these things in real life.

The Breeder’s log though, tells us we must be doing something right, a statement endorsed empathically by Imbongi’s gutsy success in the R2 million Zabeel Mile (Gr.2) at Dubai’s Meydan racecourse on Friday evening. In the race (which included several internationally performed Group One winners), our man had to endure a severe bump at a critical stage in the straight, before gathering himself again and thrusting for the line in the typical pose we’d become accustomed to from the dual Guineas winner here in South Africa.

Thrilled at the outcome, Mike de Kock may well be encouraged to raise his sights with Imbongi, come Dubai World Cup night at the end of the month. Originally pencilled for a tilt at the $1 million Godolphin Mile (Gr.2), (which may be his best trip), de Kock is of the persuasion that we should only decide finally on which course to take once we’ve weighed up the opposition for the $5 million Dubai Duty Free. His reasoning is to entice several of the horses which might otherwise have remained in the Duty Free, and with the resolute way Imbongi was going on at the end of the Zabeel Mile, the extra furlong trip of the Duty Free may now be within his metier.

Either way, it’s a luxury to have the choice. Remember, last year Imbongi was a cruel victim of exclusion from both these events, even though he was higher rated than several of the horses that made the cut. There’s no excluding him this year though, after his Group victory in England’s Criterion Stakes and his performances in Dubai in 2010.

Imbongi was not alone though in showering praise on graduates of the Summerhill draft at the Emperors Palace Ready To Run sale. Among the weekend’s big achievers was Smanjemanje, who carried top weight of 60.5kgs to a four length demolition of his opponents in the R125 000 Egoli Three-Year-Old Mile closer, while Vangelis made it twelve victories with an almost impossible come-from-behind to snatch the spoils in the Eastern Cape’s feature event on Friday.

This train’s rumbling right now, and it looks like it’s got a new head of steam.

To get your ticket visit :
www.summerhill.co.za

DUBAI WORLD CUP - Big South African Contingent

Curlin (equinephoto)A record-equalling field of 13, led by US Horse of the Year, Curlin, could go to post for the US$ 6million 2008 Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline, on March 29.

The Dubai Racing Club today reveals the likely fields for the seven races at the US$21.25 million race meeting, the world’s richest raceday, which could see horses representing trainers from as many as 16 countries.

The final fields will be declared on Monday, March 24, and then released at the Post Position Draw ceremony on Wednesday, March 26.

The 2000 running of the world’s richest race, won by Dubai Millenium, attracted 13 runners too, and this year’s renewal should also live long in the memory.

The top-rated horse in the world, Curlin, is set to face tough competition from Godolphin’s duo of Happy Boy and Jalil, winners of the Maktoum Challenge Rounds 1 and 3.

The 2007 Dubai World Cup runner-up and fourth, Premium Tap and Vermilion, are also earmarked for the 2000m showpiece on dirt, as well as last year’s UAE Derby winner Asiatic Boy. Lucky Find may also find himself in this race else the other option for him is the Godolphin Mile.

There are three other Group 1 races on the card, headlined by the Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Nakheel.

The US$ 5million contest is sure to have a maximum field of 16 runners, in which Hong Kong champion Viva Pataca will bid to emulate Vengeance Of Rain, who won the race last year. Connections of Youmzain, third in the 12 months ago, and the globetrotting Doctor Dino will also fancy their chances of victory. Sushisan and Oracle West, also with Sun Classique, feature in this event from a South African perspective.

The US$ 5million Dubai Duty Free, sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, also looks likely to have 16 runners, headed by the top-class fillies, Darjina, Finsceal Beo, Vodka, Seachange, West Wind and Majestic Roi. South African interest includes Archipenko, Jay Peg and Linngari.

The other Group 1 race on the card is the US$2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News, which sees the usual strong American challenge, led by Idiot Proof and Benny The Bull, as well as Godolphin’s Diabolical, who was so impressive when winning the Mahab Al Shimaal on Super Thursday. Narc will make his Dubai debut in this race with stablemate Drift Ice also a likely runner.

The US$ 2million UAE Derby, sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, features the South African-trained duo of Royal Vintage and Honour Devil, who have dominated the UAE three-year-old division this season.

The other thoroughbred race on the card is the US$ 1million Godolphin Mile, sponsored by Etisalat, in which American raider Barcola will aim to give back-to-back wins for Paul Reddam, following Spring At Last’s win 12 months ago.

The best Purebred Arabians in the world line up for the Dubai Kahayla Classic, sponsored by Emaar Properties, and will see Madjani attempt a record-breaking fourth win in the race.

Extract from SA Horseracing.com 

MIKE DE KOCK gives his views on Dubai runners

Terry Spargo and Mike de Kock (Andrew Watkins)Mike de Kock had a relatively quiet “Super Thursday’’ meeting last week by the standards he had set during the rest of the 2008 Dubai Carnival, but he is looking forward to World Cup night, 29 March.

De Kock, who is back in South Africa for a few days, commented: “Super Thursday is the strongest meeting in Dubai barring the World Cup meeting and although I was disappointed in Asiatic Boy’s run, my other runners performed well.

“Asiatic Boy seemed a bit flat on the night, but he will be in top shape for the World Cup and there is nothing to be concerned about.

“Royal Vintage and Honour Devil fought out the finish of the Al Bastakiya and in the UAE Derby, at level weights, they will be better off than all their rivals.

“Oracle West finished a game third in the Dubai City of Gold, he will line up with Sun Classique in the Sheema Classic. Their preparation is spot-on, both are very well.

“Lucky Find will probably improve a length or two after finishing third in the third round of the Maktoum Challenge and we’ll be leaving him in the World Cup with Asiatic Boy. He will be up against it, we’ll be hoping for a place.’’

Divine Jury is also considered to have performed below best when third in the Zabeel Mile, but is reported to be in good condition en route to the Godolphin Mile.

Archipenko has raced twice in Dubai for an impressive win in the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort and De Kock said: “He is a very good horse and will represent us in the Dubai Duty Free.’’

Extract from Mike de Kock Racing.com 

Mullins Bay to race on before stud career

(according to the European Bloodstock News)

Mullins BayIt has been announced that the regally-bred Mullins Bay, recently arrived in South Africa, will race next summer before taking up stud duties for his current owners, Summerhill Stud. A 525,000gns Tattersalls yearling, the six-year-old son of Machiavellian is a half-brother to five winners, including the very useful Stagecraft and is a Gr.3 winner himself. His dam, Bella Colora, was a Gr.1 winner who was placed in the 1,000 Guineas and hails from one of the most famous Meon Valley families in the book.  

Sold to his South African connections out of Ballydoyle, he was campaigned in Dubai last year by Mike De Kock with a tilt at the Dubai World Cup in mind. Sadly, niggling injuries forced a change of plan and he was an excellent third in the Gr.2 Godolphin Mile on World Cup night when in need of the run. He has since had three starts in the UK, including a third in the Gr.3 Select Stakes. His most recent outing was in the Gr.1 Champion Stakes, when Jamie Spencer was unable to settle him in front.

Mike de Kock
Mike de KockDe Kock explained, “He is in South Africa now and will be a major addition to the sire ranks there. It was a real shame at Newmarket, as it was the one time we had him 100% fit. He will have a break at Summerhill Stud before returning to training in January, hopefully recovered from the joint injury which has plagued him. He should then be ready to race in the summer before  retiring.” The Gr.1 Gold Challenge in June has been penciled inas a target, along with the Gr.1 Durban July on the first Saturday of July, as connections seek that elusive win in the highest class.