De Kock saddles trio in search of sixth Al Fahidi Fort

With five victories to his name, no one has won more renewals of the Al

Fahidi Fort than trainer Mike de Kock, and Thursday's racing sees the South

African maestro with three more chances to land a record victory in the Group 2

feature race.

The revamped contest is the highlight of Thursday's Meydan card and 14 have

been declared for the first turf feature of 2014, contested this year over 1400

meters instead of its former distance of 1600 meters.

De Kock's great record in the race began in 2003 with subsequent Dubai Duty

Free winner Ipi Tombe. He has won the last two renewals of the Al Fahidi Fort

with Viscount Nelson landing the prize in 2012 followed by Mushreq's victory a

year later.

This time he saddles dual course-and-distance winner Anaerobio, the mount of

Christophe Soumillon, as well as Kavanagh and Gale Force Ten.

Thierry Thulliez rides Kavanagh, fifth in last week's Dubawi Stakes, while

Pat Cosgrave will be in the saddle on Gale Force Ten, a 1400-mter Royal Ascot

winner last year for Aidan O'Brien and having a first start for his new yard.

"Anaerobio won well two weeks ago and delighted us," de Kock said. "When he

arrived in Dubai we really thought he was a classic hope but he missed that year

and it took a long time to get him back near his best. This is the obvious place

to test him over his optimum conditions.

"Kavanagh ran well on his first start back, the extra 200 meters should help

and the switch to turf is not a problem.

"This was always the plan to start Gale Force Ten off here. Like all mine who

have been through quarantine, he is likely to need his first run."

De Kock's compatriot, Herman Brown, has also won this race three times so a

South African victory here would see the country's trainers claim a ninth win in

the race. And de Kock is not the only South African gunning for Al Fahidi Fort

glory as Sean Tarry saddles Durban July winner Heavy Metal. The mount of Johnny

Geroudis, he has to concede weight to his 13 rivals and is dropping considerably

in trip.

De Kock has been supervising Heavy Metal's preparation and Tarry's runner is

also expected to need the run.

Godolphin handler, Charlie Appleby, has made a bright start to his first

U.A.E. campaign and saddles Fulbright, which like Anoerobio, is a Meydan winner

two weeks ago. That was a 1400-meter all-weather handicap, but he is equally as

effective on turf.

"It was very pleasing to see him bounce back to winning ways at the first

meeting and this was the obvious next step for him. It is a better race but he

deserves a chance in this company," Appleby said.

Frankie Dettori, making his U.A.E. comeback after sustaining the broken ankle

that prevented him from taking the ride on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner

Treve, rides Mshawish for his main employer, Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani.

Trained by Mikel Delzangles, Mshawish was fourth in the St James's Palace Stakes

at Royal Ascot in 2013.

The second French runner, Pearl Flute, trained by Francis Henri Graffard,

also represents Qatar interests and sports the silks of Sheikh Fahad Al Thani's

Qatar Racing. He was sixth to Gale Force Ten at Royal Ascot and Jamie Spencer

rides for his retained operation.

The local challenge consists of the Abdulla bin Huzaim-trained Le Drakkar,

Doug Watson's duo of Dafeef and Dux Scholar, and two for Ali Rashid Al Raihe,

Tamaathul and Mustaheel.

A fascinating field is completed by Roi De Vitesse, representing Bahrain, and

a good fourth behind Anaerobio on his local debut.

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