De Kock outlines plans for stable stars
WITH one eye on the European campaign after the Dubai Carnival, trainer Mike De Kock is busy shuffling plans for his star-studded team.
For the first time, the South African will have a permanent base in Newmarket at Geoff Wragg's former yard Abingdon Place, where he intends housing a 20-strong team this summer for an assault on the international calendar with horses like Eagle Mountain and Archipenko.
Before then, however, his stable stars will be seen in action in Dubai. "Obviously World Cup night is our first aim but these horses will definitely not be over-raced," said De Kock.
"Archipenko's main target is the Dubai Duty Free in which he was an unlucky third last year," added the trainer.
"We will look to give him a run first, be it the Al Fahidi Fort later this month or the Jebel Hatta on Super Thursday.
"I don't think it was the mile and a half which beat Eagle Mountain at the Breeders' Cup and we are aiming at the Sheema Classic. He, too, will probably have one run, most likely in the Dubai City of Gold on Super Thursday."
Looking further ahead, De Kock said: "We hope to have up to 20 in the UK - serious horses that we can campaign in the best races around the world.
"Those are the races we want to be targeting as we need to make things pay," he went on. "Meetings like Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood obviously have their attractions, but I would love to try France and perhaps Ireland as well.
"Then there is America of course - some of our dirt horses would be interesting and the Breeders' Cup of course.
"I would love to have a winner in Australia and it would be great to have a Melbourne Cup candidate for instance but all these races are a long way ahead.
"We need to get through the Carnival and evaluate things then but J J The Jet Plane would be a horse I would love to campaign in European sprints, perhaps starting at Royal Ascot and maybe aiming towards the Abbaye.
"Front House could be ideal for the big fillies and mares races, while Stubbs Art and Bankable are proven performers in Europe anyway and Macarthur is a horse we really like. We have a nice team here in Dubai and at least 10 of them will be in Newmarket to campaign globally."
DeKock also had good news regarding Sheema Classic winner Sun Classique, injured in the UK last year.
De Kock explained: "She is on the way back, slowly and the tendon seems fine. We will not rush her back but Dubai next year could be on the agenda.
"She will tell us if she is ready - she owes nobody anything and all decisions will be made with her best interests at heart - she is a valuable broodmare prospect and a real favourite."
De Kock was pleased with Asiatic Boy's return to action last week, when he finished third at Nad Al Sheba.
"We knew he would come on a lot for the run and he has put up a really good effort," he said. "The World Cup is a long way off and that is his main target.
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