“JANOOBI has done us proud, he’s had a wonderful campaign,” said Mike de Kock after the son of Silvano plucked on gamely for third to Blairhouse and Benbatl in Saturday’s Gr1 Jebel Hatt over 1800m at Meydan.
“We are pleased with this run as not a lot went Janoobi’s way. I would’ve preferred to have some cover, to have a horse or two pull him into the straight but he was beaten under a length and Jim Crowley reported he saw out every inch.”
The US$5-million Dubai Turf over 1800m on World Cup Night is likely to be Jaboobi’s next race.
“We’ve been thinking of the Gr1 Champions Mile in Hong Kong and the Gr1 Kranji Mile in Singapore as next possible targets because Janoobi will be ideally course and distance suited, but we will be discussing this with Sheikh Hamdan.
“He enjoys having a strong contingent of runners on Dubai World Cup night and on his Jebel Hatta showing Janoobi will have a chance of sharing in the prize money in the Dubai Turf. I’m glad we don’t have to go for the Godolphin Mike on sand. We will please Sheikh Hamdan.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s Al Sahem, another SA-bred son of Silvano, will be aimed at the Gr2 Dubai Gold Cup over 3200m. He was doing his best work in the latter part of Saturday’s Gr2 Dubai City Of Gold over 2410m, finishing fifth to Hawkbill.
Mike assessed: “This was a very good run by Al Sahem, he is coming to his best. He ran on from the back against proper international Gr1 horses and I have little doubt he will see out 2 miles in the Gold Cup. We finished third with Zanzamar in 2013 and second with Star Empire in 2015 and he’s arguably a better horse than both of those.”
Image: Gareth Pepper
-mikedekockracing.com
