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De Kock discusses team for World Cup night With nine Dubai World Cup meeting winners to his credit, South African Mike de Kock is by far the most successful international trainer on the world's richest race night, and only Godolphin's Saeed bin Suroor has trained more on the card (29). As always, de Kock will be well represented on Saturday and will have a runner in all of the Thoroughbred contests except for the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. He has yet to win the Group 1, $10million Dubai World Cup, though has saddled both Asiatic Boy and Lizard's Desire to finish second, and this year he relies on Master of Hounds, a winner on Super Saturday in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta on turf. Second in last year's Group 2 U.A.E. Derby for Aidan O'Brien, Master of Hounds filled the same berth behind stable companion Musir in the Group 3 Maktoum Challenge Round 1 and was then third in both the Group 2 Maktoum Challenge Round 2 and the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort. His Super Saturday victory was only the second of his career. "The Dubai World Cup was the target when we bought him," de Kock said, "and his first run in the opening round of the Al Maktoum Challenge was very pleasing. His next two runs were OK, and that was a good win last time. With Bold Silvano disappointing on Super Saturday, Master of Hounds is the obvious one to take his place in the big race. He has come out of Super Saturday well and should be capable of a good run in what looks an open renewal." Bold Silvano had long been considered a genuine Dubai World Cup hopeful, but two below par efforts on the Tapeta have forced connections to switch him back to grass, and he will take his chance in the Group 1, $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic over about 1 1/2 miles. "We had really thought he was our Dubai World Cup horse," de Kock said, "but he has not really fired having returned from injury. His Super Saturday run in the (Group 1) Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 was a big disappointment, but he managed to get his tongue over the bit, swallowed some all-weather and was coughing after the race. He is probably better on turf and stays well, so the Dubai Sheema Classic looks the right race for him." De Kock has a good record in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free, having won it with Ipi Tombe in 2003 and dead-heater Right Approach in 2004 and looks to hold strong claims again this year with both Musir and Mutahadee in the field. "Musir was another one we had a few options for with the (Group 2) Godolphin Mile a strong consideration, but I have always maintained he is a turf horse, so we are running him here. "Mutahadee has been a revelation throughout the Dubai World Cup Carnival and is a really exciting, but fragile, horse. With more luck on Super Saturday (behind Master of Hounds in the Jebel Hatta) he would have gone very close, and hopefully there will be plenty of pace on this week to help him." Irish Flame and Zanzamar are de Kock's representatives in the Group 3, $1 million Dubai Gold Cup at about two grassy miles. "Irish Flame is definitely better with cut in the ground but this is probably his trip now, while Zanzamar could have run in the Dubai Sheema Classic or here," the trainer said. "He is solid enough and will hopefully stay." De Kock's record in the Group 2 U.A.E. Derby is phenomenal. He has saddled the winner on no less than five occasions, and Mickdaam should go close to making it six. Winner of the listed Al Bastakiya on Super Saturday over the same course and distance, the three-year-old has improved throughout the year and de Kock hopes is still on an upward curve. "Considering he had only won a maiden when he arrived and was rated in the 80s he has had a great season and has improved from day one," de Kock said. "We knew the step up in trip for the Al Bastakiya would suit him and he did it well. It would be nice to think there is more improvement to come and, in reality, he needs to raise his game again as some of his rivals have been contesting good Group races throughout their careers." Veteran turf sprinter War Artist will be having his second start for the yard in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint, a race in which he was second last year. He ran well in the prep on Super Saturday when beaten about four lengths in seventh. "He really rather surprised me the other day and ran a good race," de Kock said. "Luck in running is going to be key with 16 runners charging up that straight, but I am very pleased with him and he can run well definitely with conditions to suit him."
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