MOUNTAIN LEADS DE KOCK CHARGE

Eagle Mountain is set to spearhead Mike De Kock's European team this summer, although he will not make his reappearance until the latter stages of the campaign.

The five-year-old was limited to just three starts for the South African handler in 2008, but managed to finish second in the Breeders' Cup Turf before going on to glory in the Hong Kong Cup.

De Kock had been preparing Eagle Mountain for a crack at the Sheema Classic in Dubai but he sustained a leg injury in training and is pencilled in for a late summer return.

"We still haven't started working him again but the leg looks completely normal to the naked eye," De Kock explained.

"He'll be amongst a team of 15 that leave Dubai in a week to go to Newmarket.

"We're going to be looking at races like the Breeders' Cup and the Hong Kong Cup again with him."

Archipenko won an Ascot Group Two last term and he is set to return to Berkshire for the Royal meeting in June after contesting Sunday's Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin.

De Kock said: "He's nice and fresh. He's in the Queen Anne and the Prince Of Wales's Stakes but my gut feeling is that we'll run him in the longer race."

Front House is being lined up for a possible trip to America but she could stop off at Newmarket's July meeting before heading Stateside.

"I'll build her up for the Beverly D (in Chicago) with maybe a run in the Falmouth first," said the trainer.

De Kock took that route with Irridescence two years ago with the mare finishing second at Newmarket before claiming the runner up spot at Arlington Park.

JJ The Jet Plane, a dual Group One winner in South Africa, also makes the trip with some big sprint prizes in his sights.

He continued: "JJ The Jet Plane is probably my best chance of a good run at Royal Ascot.

"He'll be entered in the King's Stand and the Golden Jubilee but for me he's going to be more effective in the six-furlong race."

De Kock also has the likes of ex-Aidan O'Brien-trained runners Macarthur and King Of Rome, Imbongi and Russian Sage to campaign as he looks to match last year's useful British tally.

He concluded: "We had six winners in England last year and to me there's no point in going there unless you're going to compete at the top level."