Al Rashidiya and Casthouse fall to South Africa

Silver Mist
(Photo : Dubai Racing Club)

Last night’s running of the Dubal sponsored $200,000 Al Rashidiya (Gr3) over 1777m, the first grass feature of the 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival, was once again dominated by South Africa who have now won four of the last six renewals.

Mike de Kock, Champion trainer of South Africa, won the Al Rashidiya for his third time when stable jockey, Kevin Shea, drove Silver Mist to victory, ironically as the mist descended upon Nad Al Sheba racecourse. This was Kevin Shea’s first victory in the Al Rashidiya.

With three runners in the feature race; Hunting Tower, Royal Vintage and Silver Mist, the Mike de Kock stable always held a strong hand. Kevin Shea took Silver Mist to the front with about 200m to run, leaving Third Set and Kirklees to chase him home.

“They did not go very quick but we were always travelling well and he (Silver Mist) has picked up nicely and really stuck his head out,” said Kevin Shea.

Mike de Kock has no lofty aspirations with regards to the six-year-old son of Western Winter: “That was very pleasing and he has done it nicely. It is his second run in three weeks and we may give him a break. We have plenty more horses left to run and hopefully a lot more winners left to saddle.”

Herman Brown joined the party in the Dubal Casthouse turf handicap with Strategic News who was perfectly produced to the lead in the dying strides by jockey Ryan Moore.

This victory by Strategic News was Herman Brown’s first for the 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival. “We thought he (Strategic News) would go close and Ryan has timed that perfectly,” said Herman Brown.

ZAYAT STABLES : MASSIVE DRAMA tunes up for UAE DERBY

Massive Drama (brisnet) Zayat Stables’ Massive Drama (Kafwain) was timed in 46.59 for 800 meters on Tuesday ahead of his tilt in the $2-million G2 UAE Derby. “He looked great and handled the track real well,” said trainer Dale Romans, who saddled 2005 G1 Dubai World Cup hero Roses in May.

Dale Romans isn’t sure how his new charge will stack up to Saturday’s challengers, a number of whom are Southern Hemisphere-bred. “It’s a hard race to handicap, at least for me,” he said. “I know some of the others, including Summerhill Stud patron Sheikh Mohammed’s, Royal Vintage and Honour Devil, are older and have a little more experience.”

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News 

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 

ROYAL VINTAGE and HONOUR DEVIL : A mixed bag for Mike de Kock at Nad Al Sheba

Royal Vintage (Andrew Watkins)Super Thursday was a mixed night for the Mike De Kock Dubai based-team with Royal Vintage heading an Al Bastakiya 1-2 with UAE 2000 Guineas winner Honour Devil chasing him home. Kevin Shea was in the saddle on the winner, a three-year-old son of Rich Man’s Gold, who was sent to the front about two furlongs out, at which point Honour Devil hung in behind briefly.

Johnny Murtagh was able to straighten his mount out though and gave valiant chase to Kevin Shea’s mount but the winning line came in time for Shea who said: “I was confident before the race and he has battled bravely. They are two nice horses.”

Mike De Kock added: “We hoped they would be first and second and they have not let us down. I could not really split them and was not surprised they finished so close together.”

The rest of the night was a bit more disappointing with World Cup aspirant Asiatic Boy only third in the Group 3 Burj Nahaar over a mile. Never far off the pace under Johnny Murtagh, he was not able to quicken in the final furlong against rivals to whom he was conceding weight and Murtagh said: “Obviously it was disappointing but the big night is three weeks away and I would rather get this defeat out of the way now than then.” Brave Tin Soldier was sixth and Drift Ice 13^th in the same race.

Oracle West was a creditable third in the Group 3 Dubai City of Gold, the 12-furlong turf feature he won in 2006 and was second in last year, while Lucky Find weakened close home in the 10-furlong Maktoum Challenge III. He was third, having led a furlong out over a trip clearly taxing his cinema.

Drayton and Frosty Secret were sixth and ninth respectively in the Group 3 six-furlong Mahab Al Shimaal, while neither Admiralofthefleet nor African Appeal were able to overcome their bad draws in the concluding Group 2 Jebel Hatta.

Extract by Peter Ward from Mike de Kock Racing.com

MIKE DE KOCK takes honours in UAE 2000 Guineas

Honour Devil (Andrew Watkins)Mike De Kock celebrated his birthday with a brilliant one-two in the Gulf News UAE 2000 Guineas at Nad Al Sheba, as Honour Devil bravely saw off his stablemate Royal Vintage to land the colt’s Classic.


Click here to watch the UAE 2000 Guineas.

The South African trainer - who along with Saeed bin Suroor, has swept all before him this Dubai International Racing Carnival - looks to have not one, but two horses who can dominate the three-year-old division in the UAE.

Honour Devil was following in the footsteps of Asiatic Boy - who runs in the same colours of HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and was the first horse to win the UAE Triple Crown last year.

A similar path awaits Honour Devil and the runner-up, as both will be aimed at the second leg, the Al Bastakiya on Super Thursday before the UAE Derby on Dubai World Cup day.

The owner also has a share in the second, and Mike De Kock said: “It’s a fantastic result for Sheikh Mohammed and we’re all indebted to him for his support of the stable.

SHEIKH Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum (right) and Mohammed Khaleel lead in Honour Devil“Honour Devil just doesn’t know when to lay down. But take nothing away from the runner-up who hadn’t run for 257 days and did not have the best draw (13).”

The South African maestro was also on the mark in the opening Wheels Handicap with Drift Ice, but otherwise the night belonged to Bin Suroor and Frankie Dettori, who combined for a hat-trick.

The highlight was With Reason who came to the front very easily in the US$175,000 Sport Extra Handicap, but then initially found little when joined by Gower Song.

However, Frankie Dettori galvanised his mount for a second run, to get him up on the line and beat the British raider by a head.