Ahead of the Dubai World Cup meeting on Saturday, trainer Mike de Kock gives a guide to each of his horses that will compete at Meydan Racecourse.
Sanshaawes, Dubai World Cup
He needs to improve, but every time he has run he has got better. I could envisage him running into a place because if you really assess the runners there are stronger races on the night. We will need a little luck, but he is a good, fit, local horse and if he runs out of his skin we might have a chance.
Mars, Dubai Sheema Classic
The horse, right, ran a cracker behind Vercingetorix on Super Saturday in the Jebel Hatta. I ran him in blinkers, which was a mistake in hindsight. He fought his jockey Richard Hughes for the first 300 metres, but then settled and ran on really well. For just his second run for me I am very happy with the way he has come on. He has his little issues and is quirky, but he definitely has ability. We are going to put him in a hood and I think he has an outside chance, but it is probably the most competitive race of the night.
Vercingetorix, Dubai Duty Free
He needs to raise his game. This is a whole different ball game to running against Anaerobio and Vancouverite in the Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday. There is The Fugue, Dank and Mshawish, who won the Zabeel Mile so well. The two Japanese horses Just A Way and Logotype are not coming over for fun. I think he has his work cut-out to win.
Shea Shea, Al Quoz Sprint
If the rain comes as forecast this week the going may be slower than usual on Saturday. The Hong Kong horses Joy And Fun and Amber Sky go well on a hard surface and won’t be stopping once they get going. We will most likely be coming from behind so if the rain comes it might just slow them down a little up front.
Jallota, UAE Derby
He is quite a nice horse and I’m surprised at that as he had quite a lot of races as a two-year-old and you often wonder whether they will go on from a season like that. His first-up run in the UAE 2,000 Guineas was pretty ordinary but he was not at his best and his next run on turf when second in the Meydan Classic was much better. It means I am still in the dark as to whether he will like Tapeta in the Derby.
Star Empire, Dubai Gold Cup
The distance is the right one for him. It might be a job to overturn Cavalryman on the form of their Nad Al Sheba Trophy run, though.
Soft Falling Rain, Godolphin Mile
He ran over a sprint distance in the Mahab Al Shimaal on Super Saturday and was also beaten by the draw. I do not remember the last time a horse won from the widest stall with 14 runners. Forget that run as he needed it more than I thought. He has improved a lot and has come along really well, and I think he is going to be very competitive.
Anaerobio, Dubai Duty Free
I think Anaerobio produced a career-best effort on Super Saturday and thankfully he received an invitation, deservedly, to run in the Duty Free.
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