Dubai 2012

Mahbooba bids to maintain De Kock's run
 
BY JASON FORD 1:30PM 19 JAN 2012
 
Preview: UAE, Friday 1.20pm GMT (Live on ATR/RUK)

Meydan: Cape Verdi Stakes (Group 2) 1m, turf, 3yo+ fillies and mares

MAHOOBA, impressive winner of the 1m1f Al Rashidiya Trial on the opening night of the Dubai World Cup Carnival on the Meydan turf, looks the one to beat.

Last year's UAE 1,000 Guineas winner is trained by Mike de Kock, who has provided the two major winners at the carnival thus far - Musir's emphatic Maktoum Challenge success last week following up Mahbooba's victory.

Stable companion Reem beat Mahbooba in a 7f Tapeta conditions race when they made their local debuts last year but needs to bounce back after a few disappointments.

Britain and Ireland are both well represented with two runners apiece and Tom Dascombe locks horns with his old boss, De Kock, with Royal Ascot Listed winner Rhythm Of Light.

Second at the big international meeting at Turkey when last seen in September, she will be ridden by Kieren Fallon for the first time. Dascombe worked for the South African trainer for two yearsand supervised De Kock's eight Dubai winners in 2003.

Sooraah (William Haggas/Ryan Moore), Marvada (Ken Condon/Shane Foley) and Hurricane Havoc (Jim Bolger/Kevin Manning) also take their chance.

First City was highly tried in Europe last year for David Simcock, including when third in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

De Kock's River Jetez, unlucky when runner-up in this race last year, was fifth on that occasion and, perhaps significantly, it is First City, who will be having her first start for UAE champion trainerAli Rashid Al Raihe, whom De Kock highlights as a big danger.

Al Sharood won a 7f conditions race on Tapeta on her local debut for Doug Watson who has had this race in mind for her since her arrival in the UAE.

What they say

Royston Ffrench, jockey on First City
"We are going to find out a lot about her but she goes well at home. Her form in Europe is very solid and weare hoping for a big run but Mahbooba was very impressive last time and looks the one to beat."

Doug Watson, trainer of Al Sharood
"This was the race we earmarked for her when she arrived and she won nicely on Tapeta first time. That was over seven furlongs and Tadhg (O'Shea) gave her a great ride and stole the race off the turn. She has a lot of speed but has won over 1m on turf in France. We are looking forward to running her again and she should go well."

Mike De Kock, trainer of Reem and Mahbooba
"Reem beat Mahbooba in the Guineas Trial last year but has been disappointing since leaving here in March. She will have come on for her run last week but needs to bounce back to the level she ran to on turf last year when chasing home stable companion River Jetez. Mahbooba delighted us in Europe and with her winning return here a fortnight ago. Hopefully she will cope with the drop in trip. It is not the strongest Cape Verdi I have seen but is competitive nonetheless. First City looks the one to beat - she was in front of River Jetez at Newmarket and that is strong mile form."

Kevin Manning, jockey on Hurricane Havoc
"She seems to have settled in well and this has been her first target all along. She stays a lot further but was second over a mile on her penultimate start.It looks a good race but she deserves to take her chance."

Ryan Moore, jockey on Sooraah
"She has a bit to find on ratings but connections are pleased with her preparation and this is the obvious starting point. I won on her at Ascot in the summer and we were second at Lingfield on Polytrack so she is versatile and hopefully an ideal carnival type."

Shane Foley, jockey on Marvada
"She only raced once at two and then did not stop improving last year. Hopefully there is more to come and conditions look ideal for her. She has done well since arriving and should run a nice race."

Tom Dascombe, trainer of Rhythm Of Light
"I am very pleased with her and everything has gone well so far but, obviously, we are going to find out a lot on Friday. She seems in great shape and ready for this run so we are going into the race with lots of hope. Mike's Mahbooba looked good last time and is the one we all have to beat. I learned a lot in my time with Mike (de Kock) and it is nice to have this standard of horse to campaign here in my own name."

Head to head with Arlington today...

Viscount Nelson
Mahbooba

hibernia Wrote:

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> Head to head with Arlington today...

And I guess we well get that atriocious coverage with five things being shown in ever smaller boxes at the the same time including a dog race, a four mile steeplchase, commentary on the penguin Derby in Antarctica, and a studio announcer who won't shut the fcuk up until the field has gone a furlong - if we're lucky.

Wonderful. I thought it was impossible for any TV channel to make Tellytrack looks positively brilliant by comparison, but now I know better.()

magiclips Wrote:

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> hibernia Wrote:
>

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>

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> > Head to head with Arlington today...
>
> And I guess we well get that atriocious coverage
> with five things being shown in ever smaller boxes
> at the the same time including a dog race, a four
> mile steeplchase, commentary on the penguin Derby
> in Antarctica, and a studio announcer who won't
> shut the fcuk up until the field has gone a
> furlong - if we're lucky.
>
> Wonderful. I thought it was impossible for any TV
> channel to make Tellytrack looks positively
> brilliant by comparison, but now I know
> better.()


That was the bookmakers shop service,shocking huh? ps cost £12k pa per shop

Well, I guess it is cheap...and it shows.< (Sarcasm - I barely think it's worth 12 Zim dollars a decade).

My word, it is cr@p.

Cheap? R130000

Sarcasm....

(Yes, I edited it to add the bit about being sarcastic, in case you thought I was being serious. There must be cheaper ways of getting a permanent headache than watching that garbage every day).

well done mdk.another 1 , 2 for stable.

Well done to MDK and he has a shoe into come,don`t think the trip will matter #lumpon

Get on the double Mahbooba X anaerabio place!!!

My eyes are bleeding after the Mahbooba result