“She’s doing very well and is well-suited to anything from 2000 (10 furlongs) to 2400 (12 furlongs),” deKock told DubaiRaceNight.com on Monday.  ”Win or lose, she’ll go back to the UK,” added the South African trainer, indicating that a start in the Breeders’ Cup is out of the question.  Depending on her result, Mahbooba could start next in Hong Kong for the Cup or Vase, both Group 1 events, or simply go back to Dubai for the 2012 season, deKock confirmed.  The daughter of Galileo will not be treated with Lasix, the permissive bleeder medication prominent in North America.  Either Christophe Soumillon or Jamie Spencer will have the call, depending on other race entries.

After his solid performance in Dubai, Master of Hounds was shipped to the US and finished a highly credible fifth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) while in the care of Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle operation.  He was sent back to Ireland and prepped for the Belmont Stakes (G1) where he caught a rail draw and sloppy track, finishing tenth.

“I think the 12 furlongs was a bit too much for him,” said deKock.  “He’ll ship from England to Dubai with some of our others as the season gets closer.  He clearly enjoyed running in Dubai, so it is an exciting addition.”

The deKock yard is familiar to former runners out of the Coolmore operation.  Golden Sword and Frozen Fire were accomplished runners out of Ballydoyle to go on to race for deKock in Dubai, with the former getting on incredibly well in his desert surroundings, winning twice at the 2011 Carnival.  Golden Sword had been second in the 2009 Irish Derby (G1) for O’Brien. 

Also identified as new deKock runners for the 2012 Dubai International Racing Carnival were maiden Mickdaam, currently with Richard Fahey, and Mutahadee, in Ireland right now with Tommy Stack.  A 2-year-old colt by Dubawi, Mickdaam “will be pointed for the UAE classics,” deKock reported.  A recent third in the Royal Whip Stakes (G2) at the Curragh, 3-year-old Encosta de Lago colt Mutahadee will also join deKock’s stable after running in Ireland out of the Tommy Stack yard.  Both horses race in the yellow and blue silks of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa. 

Thursday, deKock was crowned champion trainer for the 2011 season in his native South Africa, with his son receiving the award on his behalf.   Igugu, winner of the 2011 Vodacom Durban July (G1) was named South Africa’s Horse of the Year and could possibly run in Dubai should current shipping restrictions be lifted.  “There has been no change in the current situation with shipping, and all that is needed is some common sense,” deKock said, “so I just hope that with time, some like-minded people can sit down and get it worked out.” 

“I have between eight and twelve horses I’d send for the Carnival, but if this doesn’t get fixed, it won’t happen.”

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.

Photo courtesy EERC photographer Cedric Lane

Long-time Derby favorite, Uncle Mo, suffered his first career defeat in the Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct, finishing third behind Toby’s Corner and Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley-owned Arthur’s Tale.  Non favorites swept the other major preps, as Joe Vann took a low quality Illinois Derby (G2) and Midnight Interlude, sporting a maiden win just three weeks earlier, landed an upset in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). 

Only three major prep races remain for America’s most popular race, the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), Arkansas Derby (G1), and Coolmore Lexington Stakes (G2).