Mike De Kock Announces Dubai String

Mike De Kock Announces Dubai String

Mike De Kock has announced his Dubai Racing World Cup Carnival string which includes two KZN-bred horses, Alareef and Journeyman, with his consistent stayer, Star Empire – a son of Second Empire who stood in KZN, contesting the longer distances.

Always a massive force to be reckoned with each year in Dubai, Mike De Kock has had great success with KZN-breds overseas in the past, such as The Apache (Scott Bros), Art Of War, Imbongi (both bred by Summerhill Stud) Zirconeum and Wolf Whistle (both bred by Bush Hill Stud) – to name but a few.

A CTS Book 1 graduate selling for R450 000, Alareef bred by Shadwell Stud and consigned by Summerhill at the CTS sale in 2012, is by the deceased son of Danehill, Stronghold, and out of Machiavellian mare Modraj.

The good-looking gelding boasts a world champion pedigree – his dam-line including world champion stallion Galileo (sire of Igugu and Frankel), Urban Sea, and champion racehorse and now sire, Sea The Stars. Alareef has won four races to date, placing five times.

Journeyman, bred by Greg Royden Turner of Roski Stud, sold for R900 000 at the National Yearling Sales to Wilgebosdrift. The son of Trippi out of Rambo’s Love by Rambo Dancer, was exported to Dubai last year for the carnival.

Winning his debut easily by almost four lengths, he only had two South African starts prior to export – the next he placed in the Gr1 Umkhomazi Stakes by a length from Colour Of Courage.

In Dubai he finished just three quarters of a length off He’s No Saint in the Meydan Classic Trial under Christophe Soumillon, and was subsequently gelded shortly thereafter. Juli Santini of Roski reports his dam, Rambo’s Love, has a beautiful Var colt at foot this season.

Her big dark bay son by Western Winter, Chilli Affair, sold for R1,2million at the Ready To Run sale in 2013 and he has had a promising start to date for trainer Mike Azzie.

Additional Dubai news to the KZN Breeders sires ranks is that Gr1 Middle Park Stakes winner Crusade [pictured right], who has his first crop of foals on the ground this season very much in the image of their sire, has his half-brother by Henrythenavigator named Cristoforo Columbo competing in the Carnival for Norway.

Formerly trained by Aiden O’ Brien, he is now trained by Rune Haugen.

The colt has won twice, and amongst his four places finished just a length off the brilliant Dawn Approach and placed in the Gr1 Middle Park Stakes, and two Gr2’s – the Railway Stakes and Coventry Stakes.

Crusade, by Mr Greeley out of La Traviata by Johannesburg, stands for a fee of R20 000 at Scott Bros’ Highdown Stud in Nottingham Road.

To view the list of acceptances for the Dubai Racing Carnival, click on the following link.