De Kock high on QEII runners at Sha Tin

South African trainer Mike de Kock is no stranger to

success in Sha Tin's Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, having lifted Hong Kong's 2000-meter spring feature on

two occasions with Irridescence (2006) and Archipenko (2008),

and the conditioner is back with two chances for Sunday's renewal. De Kock is

set to saddle Jebel Hatta

winner Vercingetorix and the smart Sanshaawes, both of

whom appeared on the Sha Tin all-weather for the first time Wednesday.

"Both horses traveled very well. They've arrived safe and sound and just

needed a stretch of the legs this morning. It's all good at the moment. No issues. They're

well used to traveling," said assistant trainer Trevor Brown, who is currently

overseeing preparations.

De Kock noted that he has been pleased with

Vercingetorix's progress since the four-year-old's last out second in the March

29 Dubai Duty Free.

"He came out of the race very well," the trainer remarked. "He didn't

travel well to Dubai and it may have been a blessing in disguise because it just gave him that

much more time and it probably enabled us then to be able to go on the road to Hong Kong

and possibly to Singapore as well."

De Kock compared Vercingetorix to his two previous QEII

winners.

"If one looks at the ratings, he's probably got to be in a similar league as

Irridescence and Archipenko. He's rated 118 now but he'd be 118-plus. I think he's on the way

up but he'd have to be on a plus rating to win -- there are horses rated 124 and thereabouts.

He is on the up, it's hard to compare generations but I'd put him in that league."

Sanshaawes captured a pair of 2000-meter

handicaps at the Dubai carnival and was seventh in the Dubai World Cup

"I think

you can draw a line through (the Dubai World Cup) -- Sanshaawes is a very hot horse," de Kock

added. "He got

worked up on the day. He does get worked up, he sweats up, that's normal, but he reared

up quite badly in the pens and got his leg over.

"Nothing went right for him and he was a

little tight in running, so he's a lot better than that and we felt he would have been in the first four

if things had gone his way. If he gets a clear run he should be thereabouts on Sunday."

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