Dubai World Cup Meeting 2010

It's great to see De Kock there with a strong string and with preparations going well. It would be nice though if some of the South African BRED horses do well.

Richard's Kid sold to Sheikh Rashid for Dubai


USA: Richard's Kid, one of California's top performers, has been purchased by Sheikh Rashid's Zabeel Racing to participate in the Dubai World Cup on March 27.


Winner of the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar last summer, the five-year-old will stay in training with Bob Baffert after the sale, which was revealed in the Daily Racing Form.

Richard's Kid finished sixth to Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic on his most recent outing.

Baffert has won the Dubai World Cup with Silver Charm (1998) and Captain Steve (2001).

Speaking in the Form, bloodstock agent Omar Trevino confirmed the sale.

"We did acquire Richard's Kid," said Trevino.

"Baffert will map out the strategy for the horse. Our target is the Dubai World Cup - we wanted a horse for that particular race."

Went online to book a table in restaurant for the Super Thursday 04th March meeting, cost per person is between R1500 & R2000 per person?!! Gone for the R140 option in the Premium sitting area instead.

Dave i asked for a place in the African Betting Clan suite but apparently there isn't 1?

De Kock planning assault on prestige carnival races
By Jason Ford Racingpost.com

MIKE DE KOCK, the Dubai Carnival's most successful overseas trainer, is already targeting the world's richest raceday at the new billion-dollar Meydan raecourse on March 27 with a trio of high-profile former Ballydoyle-trained horses.

The South African is keen to run the injury plagued Eagle Mountain, runner-up in the 2007 Derby for Aidan O'Brien, in the Dubai World Cup itself, while both Irish Derby winner Frozen Fire and Golden Sword- runner-up to Fame And Glory at The Curragh last year - are also likely to appear in major races at the new Meydan racecourse.


With Johnny Murtagh not returning to Dubai this year, Kevin Shea will be riding as stable jockey to De Kock, who has saddled 65 winners at the carnival since its inception in 2004.

Speaking in a carnival preview on Racing UK, De Kock reported Eagle Mountain, who won the Hong Kong Cup in 2009, to have adapted well to the new Tapeta synthetic surface at Meydan.

"We'll try him on the Tapeta in the second or third legs of the Maktoum Challenge, or both," said De Kock.

"He's been training well on the surface, and if he races well on it then we'll look at the Dubai World Cup, otherwise we'll look at the mile and a half race, the Dubai Sheema Classic.

"He's taken time to get fit after injury, so we've gone slowly with him but I'm more than happy with him now."

De Kock is also satisfied with the progress of Frozen Fire and Golden Sword. "I'm really starting to wind them up," he reported. "I don't know if they'll enjoy the surface but we'll give them a crack.



"They are both ten furlong-plus horses - the World Cup is a definite option but we have turf options like the Sheema Classic."

De Kock told Racing UK that he is well pleased with the overall shape of his Dubai contenders.

"I'm much happier now than I was this time last year," he said. "The preparation has been like day and night.

"We got the horses over a little earlier which has given them more time to settle, and training on the new Tapeta training track has made a big difference, compared to the old dirt surface at Nad Al Sheba.

"The Tapeta surface is a lot kinder on the horses, and they've worked pretty well on it. The racetrack is the same surface and we trialled a few over it on Tuesday and I'm much happier with the new tracks and facilities."

All systems go, from the looks of things. Hopefully some of the horses with SAf form will fire as well.

Soumillon to ride for MDK in Dubai>More

A great jock all the best to the combination

MDK has 4 runners on Friday at Jebel ALI a 1200m conditions race

Rocks off-Kevin Shea

Blues and Rock-Ted Durcan

Warsaw-Paul Devlin

King Of Rome-Daragh O'Donohoe

I see also that Bennie Blue runs in race 2 (top weight, rated 96) for Al Raihe.

All four of MDK's runners are in race 3, a 10 horses conditions race over 1200 metres on the dirt.

must have a bet tonight, MDK sounded quite bullish on prep and readiness of his runners compared to last year.

All soundly beaten today.

Bennie Blue => 7th of 8 by 14.30 lengths

Warsaw => 4th of 9 by 9.50 lengths
King Of Rome => 5th of 9 by 9.55 lengths
Rocks Off => 7th of 9 by 13.30 lengths
Blues And Rocks did not run

It has been my experience in Dubai that even though their preparations may be far along, most of them will need one run to come on.

Once they have the first run under the belt then you will see massive improvement next time.

.....Not necessarily with this bunch though. They were moderate last year and will remain even more so this year. The only one I would follow is King of Rome.

The rest I would not bother with!!!!