De Kock seeks a sixth win at Meydan

Peter Ward 18:03 13/02/2014
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  • Five in the pocket: Soumillon will be hoping to give De Kock another winner.

    All the main action is on the Tapeta at Meydan on Thursday with no less than three Group 3 features, including the 1,600m UAE 2000 Guineas in which South African trainer Mike De Kock is seeking a sixth win.

    He has declared four for the first colts’ classic of the season with stable jockey Christophe Soumillon partnering Wednaan. Winner of his only start to date, a maiden at Yarmouth in the UK, Soumillon’s mount was forced to miss the trial a month ago, having contracted a cough on arrival.

    De Kock said: “His preparation has been far from perfect but we think he is a really nice horse. His inexperience is a big worry though.” All De Kock’s five previous winners of this race went on to win on Dubai World Cup night, four in the UAE Derby and last year with Godolphin Mile winner, Soft Falling Rain.

    Godolphin handler Saeed bin Suroor is one winner behind De Kock in this contest and he has both Emirates Flyer and Paximedia. Stable jockey Silvestre De Sousa deserts Emirates Flyer, on whom he won the trial, in favour of Paxi-media but Bin Suroor said: “Emirates Flyer won the trial nicely, loving the Tapeta and has been working well since.”

    Fellow Godolphin handler Charlie Appleby also saddles two, Safety Check Long John, a new recruit from Australia.

    Dual South African Horse Of The Year makes his local debut in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes, over 1,600m, and will be a first UAE runner for trainer Joey Ramsden.

    The 1,200m Al Shindagha Sprint is the third Tapeta feature with  a maximum field of 14 declared.

    These include the 2012 Group 1 Golden Shaheen winner, Krypton Factor. Ireland are particularly well represented, with four live hopes, possibly headed by the David Marnane-trained Jamesie, a course and distance handicap winner three weeks ago.

    Meanwhile, Al Ain Racecourse stage their second ever meeting on Friday afternoon with an over subscribed six-race card. The undoubted highlight is the concluding 1,800m conditions race in which Champion Trainer Ernst Oertel saddles multiple Group 1 wining veteran Fryvolous, but stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea chooses to partner stablemate Richlore.

    Jockey Royston Ffrench rides AF Lafeh for his main employer Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

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