MUSHREQ AND AWAIT THE DAWN POST IMPRESSIVE DUBAI WINS

Click above to watch Mushreq winning the Al Fahidi Fort
(Image and Footage - Dubai Racing Meydan)

DUBAI WORLD CUP CARNIVAL
21 February 2013

Mushreq and Await The Dawn posted stunning wins on another successful Dubai World Cup Carnival night for Mike de Kock’s stable at Meydan on Thursday.

Await The Dawn put the yard on the board early, winning a handicap over 2000m on turf and Mushreq took the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort over 1600m on turf in commanding fashion from his rested stablemates Master Of Hounds (2^nd) and Musir (4^th), who both produced eye-catching comeback runs.

In both winners Mike has the fabric that serious horses are made of and he said: “Mushreq has been a revelation. He’s made the kind of rapid improvement we last saw from Lizard’s Desire here a few seasons ago before he ran his great race in the Dubai World Cup. Mushreq’s getting better and stronger every day and he’s defied his penalties. He’s just doing everything right, going the right way.”

Mushreq (Paul Hanagan) beat a talented field in the Al Fahidi Fort, giving Mike his fifth win in the race since Ipi Tombe burst onto the scene at Nad Al Sheba in 2003. The merit of Mushreq’s win will warrant a re-think of the stable’s immediate plans for him and Mike said: “After this top class performance I feel like putting him on ice and going straight into the Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night, but we’ll have to discuss the way forward with Sheikh Hamdan and Angus Gold.”

Mike was also excited about Master Of Hounds (“he surprised us”) and Musir (“showed some of his old sparkle and ran a good race”) - both are likely to hold entries in suitable races on the big night at the end of March. The pair had only been back in work in Dubai for a little while, making considerable progress.

Click above to watch Await The Dawn winning the Al Naboodah Commercial Group Trophy
(Image and Footage : Dubai Racing Meydan)

The stable’s most satisfying feat on the night, however, was Await The Dawn’s stylish success in a turf contest over 2000m. The six-year-old entire by Giant’s Causeway galloped home boldly under “Pikey” Pat Cosgrave in his second outing for his new handler.

Await The Dawn had won five of his first six starts in the UK, including the 2011 Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot, but was sidelined after injuring himself in the 2012 Dubai Duty Free.

Mike told: “Await The Dawn was what we call a ‘project’ horse. He’s suffered a multitude of problems and we got him from Coolmore as a challenge, a long-term project. I’m happy to say everything has come together for him, it was a massive team effort and I’m very proud. Await The Dawn spent two months with Fozzy Stack in Ireland. He ran around the paddock with an old hack and it did him the world of good. It’s hard to get horses of this calibre - he was rated 121 and came down to a 118 for last night’s race, but he’s a horse with serious ability, a proper thoroughbred.”

Mike said he would have a “good think” about where to go next with Await The Dawn. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for a horse he rates up there with the big guns.

Await The Dawn’s part-owner Gary Grant, watching the race from Durban, commented: “The lease from Coolmore connections was negotiated by the usual suspects, Jehan Malherbe, Mike and the ‘Hairy Doc’ (John McVeigh). Mike and the team have done wonders to get him back to good form, well done!”

Racing Post analyst Ron Wood liked what he saw from Await The Dawn and wrote on racingpost.co.uk. “He travelled strongly before striding out well for pressure and he should be competitive back in Group company.”

Extract from Mike de Kock Racing

TURF TUNES

Trainer Brett Crawford leads in Patriotic Rebel with owner Gavin Almanza
(Photo : Gold Circle)

EMPERORS PALACE READY TO RUN CUP
Turffontein, Turf, 1400m
3rd November 2012

Log-watchers for the R2.5million Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup have plenty to amuse them at this time of the year, as one horse after another puts it’s hand up for one of the sixteen places at the start. Yesterday, Brett Crawford staked a claim when Stronghold’s son, Patriotic Rebel, came home at Durbanville. Ironically, if this fellow gets into the race, he will be racing for the same money as the Crawford star, Jackson, will be in the J&B Met on the first Saturday in February.

Just a fortnight ago, I was in the company of Sean Tarry, John McVeigh and Mike de Kock as the sun went down over the Indian Ocean after a glorious day at Zimbali Lodge. Remarkably, the latter two were “on the wagon”, a unique sight for those who know them, and for a man who sent out Extra Zero to pick up a R400,000 cheque for her place in last year’s Cup, it was almost as remarkable that Sean Tarry thought he didn’t have a candidate for the race this year. All that changed in a matter of seventy odd seconds at the Vaal on Tuesday, when the Mullins Bay filly Tinchy Stryder did exactly that, striding away to an impressive 4,5 length debut win. While we’ve no idea how the handicappers will rate this one, she must have a strong shot at making the line-up for the big money on the first Saturday in November. They say success in this game is a momentum thing, and Chris van Niekerk’s equine investments have been on fire ever since Pomodoro edged Smanjemanje in the Vodacom Durban July.

On another note altogether, High Chaparral’s star continues its orbit at the top end of the constellation. He already has the best two-year-old in England, he had a Group One winner in the Northern Dancer Stakes a week ago, and this weekend, Shoot Out fired a bullet in the George Main Stakes (Gr.1) at Caulfield, Australia. Don’t forget, High Chaparral also has his best-performed Northern Hemisphere product, Golden Sword, right here at Summerhill, with an impressive first book of mares.

MELBOURNE PREMIER YEARLING SALE : THE SA CONNECTION

Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale - Oaklands Parade Ring
(Photo : Inglis)

MELBOURNE PREMIER YEARLING SALE
27 February - 1 March 2012

One of the early features of the 2012 Melbourne Premier Sale was the large contingent of South African owners, trainers and agents in attendance. Simon Vivian has had some sleepless nights in organising travel arrangements but is delighted with the results already.

“Mike de Kock and his agent Jehan Malherbe have flown in from Dubai with their vet Dr John McVeigh. Dean Kannemeyer and Geoff Woodruff are also here and all have been active at varying levels today so it is satisfying,” Vivian said. “Markus Jooste bought three lots under his Mayfair Speculators banner, including colts by Encosta de Lago and Danehill Dancer, so it has been a good start on day one.”

The logistics of getting everyone to Melbourne has been daunting. “The government bodies overseas have been very helpful, the Austrade office in Dubai was fantastic and we’re obviously delighted to have got them here. They are enjoying their accommodation at Crown and enjoying Melbourne and all it has to offer.”

Vivian feels that there will be more purchases to come from the South African visitors. “There’s a lot of horses over the next two days that suit them, they have come to buy, they have indicated to me that they are very happy with the quality of horse on site, they have specific things they look for, they very much like to buy proven sires and they are all shopping at different levels so there is something for everyone. Mick Goss who is a great supporter of the sale has not bought yet but I’m sure he will at some point over the rest of the week.”

“Given the fact that the Australian dollar is so strong right now, considering that the South Africans are here and spending is a very serious thing, not just for us but for the Australian industry,” Vivian said. “The South African buyers have not made a significant impact at the major sales so far this year so the fact that they are here in Melbourne and spending can only be a good things for us all.”

The impact of multiple Group One winner Igugu (Galileo) in South Africa, sold by Mick Goss’ Summerhill Stud on the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale, has had a positive impact in promoting the Melbourne Sale within South Africa and, along with Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), the results out of the Melbourne Sale have definitely worked in the auction house’s favour. “We at Inglis have been building to this for four or five years. Mike de Kock has a client base now that allows him to buy at any sale around the world and the impact that Igugu and Black Caviar have had certainly cannot be underestimated.” Vivian was also at pains to point out the help of Victorian-based agent Paul Guy in helping establish the South African connection. “Paul works tremendously hard. He and I share the workload, we make two dedicated trips a year there to get them here and it is a real team effort to make this happen.”

Extract from ANZ Bloodstock News

ARCHIPENKO easy winner in Audemars Piquet QEII Cup

Archipenko (hkjc)

Everything that can be said has already been said about Mike de Kock. Saluting is no longer enough. In Zulu there is a word called “hlonipa”, which means utmost respect, and it’s often connected with royalty. We’re not sure there’s a peerage that adequately accommodates this man any longer, because he’s in a class of his own. South Africa can stand up as a nation, and in the process of acknowledging Archipenko’s victory in one of the world’s great races on Saturday for Mike de Kock, we can all take a bow.

Our horsemen have no need to stand back for anyone, as he and Kevin Shea amply reminded us again. Of course, this was a victory for others as well Sheikh Maktoum Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, as prized a customer of Summerhill as one could imagine, our friends at Ascot Stud, the guru Jehan Malherbe, the “Lion Tamer” John McVeigh and Mike de Kock himself all benefited enormously from the coveted R11 million purse which former Ballydoyle inmate, Archipenko, scooped in the famous and increasing Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong.

It was good to hear the National Anthem again. In these circumstances, you can’t grow tired of it!

Freeracer reports that ARCHIPENKO, prepared to perfection, ran out an easy winner of Sunday’s Audemars Piquet QEII Cup over 2000m at Sha-Tin in Hong Kong, rewarding the confidence of his connections.

Mike de Kock, Trevor Brown and Kevin Shea did not want to know about losing all week.

Archipenko had improved since finishing third in the Dubai Duty Free – a race he should arguably have won – and they knew that a repeat of that performance would be just about good enough.

He turned in that, and more, coming across from a wide draw to sit in fifth spot behind early leader Sir Slick, with the other strongly fancied runners Viva Pataca and Helene Mascot several lengths behind him.

The picture changed as the field turned for home. Matsurida Gogh made an early forward move with Viva Macau and pursuit and the back markers trying to get onto terms. Archipenko briefly appeared flatfooted, but Kevin Shea shook him up and he picked up the bit and started to reel them in stride for stride. He got to the front with 200m to go and won by two lengths with several more in hand. Balius and Viva Pataca finished second and third respectively, staying on from far back.

Mike de Kock and Kevin Shea agreed that this won’t be the last of Archipenko’s big wins. “When he came around the bend he was like a two-year-old not knowing what to do, but when he saw daylight he let rip.’’

Mike de Kock praised his staff for a great team effort and added: “Archipenko will go the UK now. He might race at Royal Ascot, but there are no firm plans at this stage.’’

Archipenko is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum in partnership with Mike de Kock, Dr Ashley and Rose Parker, Jehan Malherbe, Dr. John McVeigh and Hugo Merry.

Click here to watch video of Archipenko winning Audemars Piguet QEII Cup 2008.

Extract from Mike de Kock Racing 

The biggest broodmare sale in Europe: Tattersalls December sales

Friday the 30^th sees the departure of “the boss” for the United Kingdom, where he will be joining up with Sheikh Hamdan’s people, in particular, Angus Gold, and recent Summerhill visitor, Kate Whitehouse, for part of Europe’s showcase breeding stock sale. While he’s there, he’ll be catching up with old friends from across the world, as well as Kerry Jack, one-time Broodmare and Sales Manager at Summerhill, now working for Dr John McVeigh & Partners in the UK.

An interesting sideline to this visit is a request from Mick Flanagan, currently a student on the Darley Flying Start Course, that he be permitted to join “our” Mick while he’s inspecting broodmares at the sale, as part of Flanagan’s practical education compliance for the Darley course.

It’s prohibitively expensive to buy at these venues, so when we do, we generally look for what we can’t buy in South Africa. Given the state of our currency, it’s always advisable to buy racing performance in a broodmare prospect locally, whilst if you’re looking for pedigrees carrying names of international celebrities, then this sort of venue is sometimes capable of producing prospects of this ilk.

Of course, there will be other aspects to the trip, including discussions about the Darley School Of Excellence with representatives of Sheikh Mohammad’s operation (Stephen Gill, who’s well known to most readers), base-touching with other figures from Sheikh Hamdan’s business, including his right hand man, Mirza Al Sayegh and Financial Director, Chris Kennard, if not Sheikh Hamdan himself. Then there are also meetings with representatives of Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms. A busy week, this sort of relationship building is all part of the Summerhill story, and it’s interspersed with time spent with our own existing English clients, who are never short of a good yarn, or wanting for a quick pint… or two!

Thursday will see the Summerhill contingent move off to Deauville on the Normandy coast in France, where the series of breeding stock sales continues, and where Mick & Cheryl will be hosted at a reception by the head of the Arqana Sales organization, Eric Hoyeau and his board of directors. This will also be a grand opportunity to catch up with France Gallops’ International Relationships Manager Elodie Garamond, who will be heading a delegation of French breeders to Summerhill in the New Year, as well as Haras du Mezeray’s Charl-Henri de Moussae. His fabled father, Paul, breeder of the Arc winners Trempolino and Subotica, was the first to come to our rescue in the “troubled nineties” and we’ve enjoyed a long and happy association with the family ever since.

Sounds like a lot of fun, and no doubt he’ll be keeping us posted with periodic postings for the blog.

Click here for a glimpse inside the sales ring of the October 2007 Tattersalls Yearling Sale.


                                                                                                        Deauville, Normandy