MIKE de Kock jetted to Dubai on Sunday to start the serious preparation of his runners for the 2019 Dubai International Racing Carnival, that opens on Thursday, 3 January.

Mike presently has 15 horses in training at Blue Stables, and five more are in transit from South Africa coming via Mauritius and Newmarket, due to arrive in the UAE in the opening week, later than normal as recently noted.

Mike scanned through his Blue Stables list and filed the following comments:

Al Sahem
He was disappointing at last year’s carnival and tends to have issues, but we’re hoping for a better spell this year, he is well.

Alfolk (AUS)
He is doing very well. He’s a stronger horse and I’d say a better horse than he was last year, he travelled early from South Africa and has been here for a while.

Astronomer (IRE)
He’s a nice stayer with good form leased from Aiden O’Brien, he’s won four in a row this year but does have one or two issues but we hope to see him in action this term.

Baroot (GB)
An old soldier, he is rated 99 and qualifies for the Carnival. He is looking good, in similar fine form of last year.

Bold Rex
He was disappointing last year and he fractured a pelvis in his last start. He has recovered, he is doing very well and we’re hoping to win with him at this year’s Carnival.

Conclusion (JPN)
He is rated 89 and doesn’t qualify for the Carnival, bred for the dirt. He is also a leased horse, a two-time winner in Ireland.

Faith and Fortune (ARG)
A three-year-old purchased by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum in Argentina and he has useful form, we’re hoping to have a crack at the classics with him.

Fire Away (USA) – Trevor Brown.

Fire Away (USA)
An American horse with useful graded form and a beautiful pedigree. He’ll be coming back to stud in South Africa, he is doing very well.

Icy Trail
He kept on bleeding last year and was very disappointing. We’ve taken our time with him, he seems to be better this year.

Janoobi
He enjoyed a good carnival last year, looks happy and in good form again and we’ll be hoping for similar.

Light The Lights
Another runner in a similar vein of form to last year. Hoping to get one win in the Carnival with him.

Marinaresco
Here’s a horse starting to do nicely. We’re hoping to have a few runs in the Carnival with him, starting a bit later, maybe at the third meeting. He’s going the right way.

Mujaafy (AUS)
Useful South African form, he travelled with Alfolk and arrived early. Doing well, we should have a nice season with him.

Pertinacious (USA)
Very disappointing last year, but he’s a horse with a Maiden win in him.

Suyoof (AUS)
On the disappointing side last year, but he’s looking well and working well and we’ll be hoping he can deliver his best in the new season.

Horses en route:
Yulong Prince (Surcharge), Yakeen, Royal Crusade, Hermoso Mundo, Majestic Mambo.

Headline photo: Alexander Thompson.