Bold Silvano, off since that win last February, is expected for the Firebreak Stakes (G3) over 1,600 metres, while Master of Hounds is the stable’s choice for the Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (G2), a race upgraded to Group 2 status this season, over 1,900 metres.  On the surface, both horses are considered Dubai World Cup chances, but will approach the race in different fashions.  In 2011, Bold Silvano was viewed as a likely lukewarm favourite for the race before suffering some nagging minor injuries after his Dubai debut win.

DeKock also reported that Boby Di Job, a recent private purchase from Uruguay, has joined the team in Dubai.  ”The intention is to run him in the UAE Derby,” said deKock.  Boby Di Job took two legs of the Uruguayan Triple Crown and is a winner of five from eight races.

While Musir’s exploits from last week, winning the Al Rashidiya (G2), have been well noted, deKock added more thoughts on Meydan handicap winner Mutahadee.  ”His performance was very pleasing as he hadn’t done much.  He looks top class.”  The Trakus data from Mutahadee’s win uncovered a final 200-metre timing in 10.54 seconds, the fastest winning final split in a turf route at Meydan in the last two seasons.

This week at Meydan, deKock starts the Mauritian champion Disa Leader and returning fourth in the UAE Derby Zanzamar in the first race of the night.  He also has Rerouted going in the Al Shindagha Sprint (G3), part-owned by top golfer Lee Westwood.  Through 21 starters this season, the deKock team has four wins and four placings.

“She almost had no right to win,” said trainer Mike de Kock.  ”I feel she was 90 percent today, I’m humbled by this performance.  It’s been a great performance.  I feel if she wasn’t here today, it wouldn’t have been the same.”

“We had to travel 18 hours to get down here.  These champions seem to get over it, lesser horses wouldn’t.  She didn’t have that early gate speed, but what she’s been through, locked up in quarantine from dawn until dusk, it hasn’t been easy. With the slow pace, I was expecting to see us in front. It probably shows she wasn’t at her best.  It’s not easy when you train horses like this, but fortunately, the people who own her, everyone has faith in the team, trust in the team.”

While she might not have been at her best, it makes the gutty late stretch heroics even more thrilling. De Kock indicates Igugu would stay in South Africa and aim for defence of her title in the Vodacom Durban July if she couldn’t get to Dubai for next year’s season.

Sporting Life has more on the race.

2010 UAE Derby winner Musir is back in the CGA Hungerford Stakes (G2) at Newmarket.  In three starts in the UAE this year, Musir was second in both the Firebreak Stakes (Listed) and the Maktoum Challenge – R3 (G2) before a seventh in the Dubai World Cup (G1).  Racing in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, both horses are likely to need a run in their returns to competition.

Friday at Newmarket, Dubai Duty Free (G1) and Singapore International Cup (G1) second River Jetez was a credible fifth in her first work since the May race in Singapore.  The daughter of Jet Master ran on well but tired and flattened in the run up the hill for the Falmouth Stakes (G1), beaten just 3.5 lengths in the race won by Timepiece.  Godolphin’s Antara faded to ninth as the second favourite.  On his website, trainer Mike De Kock added, “she gave a good account of herself, needing the run. Also the Falmouth was not the ideal preparation race for the Beverly D, but as things came about we had to race her here, so we’re delighted with her running up so close.”  The Beverly D (G1) is part of the International Festival of Racing at Arlington and will be run on 13 August over 1 3/16 miles (about 1,900 metres).  Watch the Falmouth Stakes on Youtube HERE.

About two lengths off Happy Landing, Igugu drifted towards the front with her natural speed and held off all challengers through the 350 metres of the straight.  A daughter of Galileo out of the Intikhab mare Zarinia, she sports eight wins from ten starts, and stopped the timer in 2:12.80 for the 2,200 metres trip.  Owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and Andre and Joyce MacDonald, trained by Mike DeKock, and ridden by Anthony Delpech, Igugu would be fully expected to run in Dubai barring any health issues.  The win is the second consecutive Vodacom Durban July for the team of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa and DeKock, who took the race with Bold Silvano. 

“I’ll never ride another filly like this,” said Delpech.  “She’s a star, and I said the other day, you’ll see who is Horse of the Year.”