Opening night, Dubai 2014
January 8, 2014Sceptre Stakes Field
January 11, 2014MUSHREQ got Mike de Kock’s 2014 Dubai campaign off to a flying start with a 1.25-length win in the Listed Singspiel Stakes over 1800m on turf at Meydan on Thursday evening. (headline photo).
Mushreq burst from the pack with 250m to run and kept going strongly under Paul Hanagan, a fifth career success for Sheikh Hamdan’s son of Flying Spur.
This was a mild surprise for the stable, but an altogether pleasant one at that and Mike commented: “We thought Mushreq would need a run or two to come to winning form and for him to land a listed event so early is simply delightful. I’m not sure how strong the field was, however, we’ll give him another run or two to confirm his form. We may give the Dubai Duty Free another crack this year if all goes well.”
Anaerobio has improved; won a good race.
Christophe Soumillon produced Anaerobio with a similarly storming finish in a 1400m handicap on turf to win Race 7 in impressive fashion. Anaerobio won a race over the course and distance to end off last year’s campaign and picked up where he left off, almost a year later.
“He won commandingly and this was good to see, he has improved and well done to owner Mohammed Khaleel. Anaerobio is in a good space right now, clearly enjoying his racing and we’ll play it by ear with him. On the evidence of this win he has a good carnival ahead of him.”
Mike and Christophe: A quick game of rock-paper-scissors after Anaerobio’s win.
El Estruendoso disappointed the yard in an all-weather handicap over 1900m earlier on the night and Mike said: “He wasn’t beaten too far, but we’re not yet convinced he stays the trip and he may well be better on turf. I want to give him another run over ground to make sure we are with him, he’s a decent horse.”
In all, Mike said, this was a satisfying race meeting to start the 2014 Carnival and he would have been happy to leave with a single winner. “All our runners will improve. Daddy Long Legs showed for a long way and got tired; Royal Ridge moved up to finish second and ran out of steam; Disa Leader ran very well considering some interference; Rerouted raced too wide to play a role in his race; Mutin stayed on well late over a trip too short, so we’re happy with our start.”
Photos by Andrew Watkins.
4 Comments
Rock paper scissors? No, that looks more like secret society handshake, Lol!
And I will add, well done de Kock team on a being swiftly out of the starting blocks in 2014. Look foward to the forthcoming meetings.
I sit in the beauty of Franschhoek at Nutfield Stud and say to myself…Self Your Man de Kock is a genius.
Fantastic start. Keep it up Champ.
I can’t get my head around Daddy Long Legs, he was one of my favourite 3 year olds and watching him run in England and win the UAE Derby the way he did, I was adamant he was an extremely serious horse… He hasn’t looked the same since, and something looks amiss as on his day I believe he is a top class Grade 1 runner who could serve it up to anything over 8-10f. He is definitely better than his last run, I hope it’s a case of fitness as opposed to a breathing or more complicated issue. All the best with him, and I hope he is in the top flight come Dubai World Cup night.