MIKE de Kock saddles his first runner of the 2017/18 UAE season whenUSA-bred Pertinacious makes his racecourse debut in Race 5 at Jebel Ali on Friday, the 1400m maiden.

Pertinacious, by Smart Strike, fetched $200,000 (R2.5 million) at the OBS Breeze-Up Sales in Florida in April.

Colm O’Donoghue.

Pertinacious, one of five juveniles in the 16-runner event, won’t need to be above average to make a serious impression. He will be partnered by Irish rider Colm O’Donoghue for owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa.

Mike commented:  “It’s never easy first time up the hill at Jebel Ali, but Pertinacious has been showing us some good work at home and Colm O’Donoghue has been riding work for us.  If Pertinacious reproduces his gallops, he can go close.”