Al Sahem in the parade ring at Greyville for the Gr1 Daily News 2000. Image: Candiese Marnewick
Six South African runners destined for the 2018 Dubai Racing Carnival have arrived in the United Arab Emirates at Mike de Kock’s Blue Stables at Meydan, with Maine Chance leading sire Silvano prominent amongst three runners – as the sire of two, and paternal grandsire of another.
Bold Rex, Icy Trail, Al Sahem, Smiling Blue Eyes, Janoobi and Belle Rose will be racing for Mike De Kock this term. Whisky Baron (AUS), winner of the Gr1 Sun Met in the Cape, joins the De Kock stable for trainer Brett Crawford.
Mike commented: “They all travelled well from Newmarket in the UK. Bold Rex and Icy Trail were sent to Newmarket early and along with Whisky Baron they have done a lot of work and are the fittest of the bunch.
“Icy Trail is a new acquisition who won six races for Candice Bass-Robinson. He looks a tough and decent sort, in the mould of some of our quality desert runners like Sanshaawes and Light The Lights. Bold Rex is a handicapper on the up and he, too, can do well here.
“Al Sahem and company arrived via Mauritius later than the others and are behind in fitness levels, but I’m not going to rush them. We’ll race them into form next year.”
Bold Rex, amongst his four wins and three places ran third in the Gr2 Dingaans to Singapore Sling – the latter now racing in Hong Kong for Tony Millard. By Bold Silvano and bred by Ascot Stud, his sire enjoyed immense success in Dubai with trainer Mike De Kock after winning the Vodacom Durban July – earning over R6-million and winning the Gr3 Maktoum Challenge.
In the process Bold Silvano accounted for numerous Gr1 winners during his career, including international superstars Interaction, Gitano Hernando and Al Shemali.
Smiling Blue Eyes going to the start at Greyville. Image: Candiese Marnewick
Six-time winner Icy Trail, by Go Deputy out of Jallad mare Icy Air, is a winner of the Gr2 Premier Trophy. His dam Icy Air was Equus Champion 3YO Classic Female in 2002, and has produced five winners – four of them Black Type.
The handsome Al Sahem, a son of Silvano bred by Al Adiyaat (Sheik Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum) has only won and placed second from all of his starts – earning R3,172,500 in the process from seven runs and three wins.
Out of an Al Mufti mare, he ran second to Marinaresco and Edict Of Nantes respectively in the Vodacom Durban July and Daily News 2000, and won the Gr1 SA Derby in May this year.
Janoobi and Belle Rose make up the rest of the arsenal. Janoobi, by Silvano and bred by Maine Chance Farms, just got up to beat Al Sahem in the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas and crossed the line first in the Gr2 Guineas in Durban. Owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, the five-time winner has earned almost R1,6million in stakes.
Belle Rose by Golden Sword, is another combination that like Bold Rex, Mike De Kock trained her sire in Dubai.
Bold Rex.
She is out of Vin Fizz – the dam of Pierre Jourdan and Champagne Haze. Merit rated 97, Belle Rose is owned by Al Adiyaat South Africa.
Mike De Kock labelled the Summerhill sire Golden Sword, the best horse of a classy generation in his overseas string. Golden Sword still holds the record for the fastest 2000m at Meydan and made the news when his full brother, Rekindling, won “the race the stops the nation” Gr1 Melbourne Cup a few months ago.
A winner of the Oaks Trial over 2000m, Belle Rose has also placed three times in good company. The Summerhill-bred ran fourth, less than a length off Orchid Island in the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic under Anton Marcus in April this year.
South African horses have enjoyed immense success in Dubai over the years, including Group wins with the likes of Shea Shea, Vercingetorix, The Apache, Variety Club, Light The Lights, Bold Silvano, Soft Falling Rain, Lizard’s Desire, Imbongi, River Jetez, Sun Classique, Jay Peg and Irridescence amongst others.
