Thread: Carnival!
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Old 02-16-2009, 10:45 AM
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my miss storm cat my miss storm cat is offline
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Yeah can't wait to see which other HK (applause! ) runners go!

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From RP...


De Kock stars out in force this week
By Jason Ford2.16PM 16 FEB 2009

MIKE De Kock, largely overshadowed by the unstoppable Saeed Bin Suroor so far at this year's Dubai Carnival, is set to unleash some of his biggest names this week at the double-header on Thursday and Friday.

UAE Derby winner Honour Devil will join familiar former European-trained stars Bankable, Macarthur and Stubbs Art are among those set to represent the South African at Nad Al Sheba.

Despite six winners this year, DeKock has conceded his number one position overall to Bin Suroor, whose Godolphin machine has churned out 14.

On Thursday, Dubai World Cup hope Honour Devil runs for the first time since thrashing stablemate Royal Vintage in last year's UAE Derby for his third win at the carnival.

The four-year-old will run in a 1m conditions race on the dirt alongside stablemate Lucky Find, but Thursday's feature race is theGroup 2 Al Fahidi Fort at the same trip on turf, won in the past by the likes of Ipi Tombe, Linngari (twice) and last year Archipenko.

De Kock has five entered, headed by Imbongi and King Of Rome, another new recruit from Ballydoyle.

Linngari's trainer Herman Brown, will run last year's Duty Free winner Jay Peg who could be joined in the field by stable companions Kings Gambit and Traffic Guard.

With large entries but only ten able to compete in them, at least one of the turf handicaps is set to divide. Dual Guineas third Stubbs Art is ready to make his De kock debut in the 71/2f race.

The eighth meeting of the carnival on Friday features the Balanchine Stakes, a Listed race over 1m1f on the turf for fillies and mares.

The De Kock-trained Front House will take on Saudi Arabia's Deem, who beat her over a furlong shorter earlier this month in the Cape Verdi.

Hardwicke Stakes winner Macarthur is set to make his debut for De Kock in a 1m1f turf handicap on the same card.

The former Luca Cumani-trained Bankable is entered for the same race, although it looks likely to divide.

Top South African perfomer Kildonan, always held in the highest regard, is finally ready for his UAE debut in the 6f dirt handicap. He has been off the track since suffering an injury when being prepared for Hong Kong in 2007.
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