November 12, 2006

TEAM VALOR NOW HAS THREE HORSES WITH DE KOCK IN DUBAI,
TRAINER DETAILS INCREDIBLE STRING IN WEBSITE STORY ON LINE

De Kock's Dubai troops are called to assemble

Whistledownthewind

WITH the 2007 Dubai Racing Carnival approaching, Mike de Kock’s team is gearing up for what should be another terrific season.

This term’s string is one of the strongest ever to leave our shores for De Kock’s Grandstand Stables in Dubai, and includes the cream of the crop from the last South African season.

Seven horses are already stabled in the UAE, with another ten presently vacationing in France en route to their new home.

In Dubai, our roving assistant trainer Steven 'Stu-Stu-Studio-Line' Jell is in charge of the Grandstand string, Candidato Roy, Key Of Destiny, Money Bags, En Grepido, Asiatic Boy, Bennie Blue and Irridescence.

He said: "They’re all as well and as sound as can be, in full work and preparing for the first part of he season. They are running on the track and doing work on the treadmill.

"Candidato Roy and Key Of Destiny spent the summer here, they are happy horses and doing some hard work.

Whistledownthewind among de Kock's Dubai selections.

"Bennie Blue has picked up weight and filled out. Irridescence arrived from France last night (8 November). She never travels too well and will spend the next few days in quarantine, but like last year we expect her to settle down quickly. She will be fine."

Assistant trainer Trevor Brown is based on a farm outside Bordeaux in the north of France, looking after ten horses shipped from South Africa to Dubai via Mauritius and France.

Brown says the weather is moderate, with sunny days and cold nights, but his string is doing exceptionally well and enjoying themselves.

He told: "They’re on a stud farm with a very good 800m sand track and large, beautiful wooden barns. The facilities are first-class."

He gave a run-down of the horses:

"They are in light work, cantering every day. They were quite frisky when they arrived from Mauritius, but they’ve settled down now. Candy Critic has recovered fully and she looks great, she’s filled up. Kapil is doing extremely well. He gives me a tremendous feel on the track. He’s a bull of a horse.

The stayer Diamond Quest is well within himself, no problems. Express Way is a nice horse and he enjoys his work, he squeals on his way to the track and also gives me the feel of a top horse.

Bad Girl Runs won the Guineas by a nose over Alexandra Rose.

"The three other horses acquired from Cape trainers are Whistledownthewind, Alexandra Rose and Bad Girl Runs. Whistledownthewind is going through the motions, no problems and Alexandra Rose is putting on muscle and in riding her I feel there is something there. She is no slouch, I think we’re going to have a good season with her in Dubai. Bad Girl Runs is a quiet and reserved filly. She stands quietly and nothing can faze her."

"Then there is Limehouse, Drift Ice and National Colour. Limehouse lost a bit of muscle tone while in Mauritius, but he is a happy horse with lots to come. He is building up again. Drift Ice is his big, relaxed self, having a good time here.

"National Colour canters along merrily. She feels ordinary on track, but as Sean Tarry told me she only has two gears, a steady canter and that blistering pace when she picks up a gear."

Mike de Kock commented: "So far so good, our plans are well on track. The string in France will leave for Dubai in about two and a half weeks and then we will regroup and start full training for next year’s Carnival."

De Kock said that he would be training all horses, while looking after National Colour for Tarry. "Sean will be here periodically to train his filly, much like Mike Azzie did with National Currency a few years ago. I am going to put Sean through a stringent housekeeping regime like I did with the Azzman. There is a lot of ironing and washing to be done here!"