DUBAI Thursday 19th February

NOMINATIONS

Race 1, Dirt 2000m, 90-105 handicap, $110k
(104) Jet Express(SAf) - Al Raihe
(95) Naples(Aus) - de Kock

Race 2, Dirt 1600m, conditions, $110k
(121) Honour Devil(Arg) - de Kock
(118) Traffic Guard(USA) - Brown
(112) Lucky Find(SAf) - de Kock
(104) Jet Express(SAf) - Al Raihe
(98) Perfect Season(SAf) - Brown

Race 3, Turf 2400m, 95+ handicap, $150k
(107) Bound By Honour(SAf) - Brown
(106) Desert Links(SAf) - Brown
(102) Mr Brock(SAf) - de Kock

Race 4, Turf 1200m, 95-110 handicap, $120k
(109) Warsaw(Ire) - de Kock
(106) Diana's Choice(SAf) - de Kock
(99) Lipocco(GB) - Brown
(98) Glow Star(SAf) - Brown
(96) Charlies Island(SAf) - Brown
(95) Grand Emporium(SAf) - Bouresly

Race 5, Turf 1500m, 95-110 handicap, $120k
(109) Warsaw(Ire) - de Kock
(108) Pointing North(SAf) - Seemar
(107) Rocks Off(Arg) - de Kock
(106) Diana's Choice(SAf) - de Kock
(105) Stubbs Art(Ire) - de Kock
(101) Lion's Blood(SAf) - Brown
(100) My Central(Ity) - Brown
(98) Glow Star(SAf) - Brown
(98) Golden Riviera(SAf) - Brown
(98) Perfect Season(SAf) - Brown
(96) Charlies Island(SAf) - Brown
(96) Hamlool(Aus) - de Kock
(95) Grand Emporium(SAf) - Bouresly

Race 6, Turf 1600m, Group 2, $250k
(120) Jay Peg(SAf) - Brown
(118) Traffic Guard(USA) - Brown
(113) Imbongi(SAf) - de Kock
(112) King's Gambit(SAf) - Brown
(112) Biarritz(SAf) - de Kock
(112) Hunting Tower(SAf) - de Kock
(111) King Of Rome(Ire) - de Kock
(107) Rocks Off(Arg) - de Kock
(104) Jet Express(SAf) - Al Raihe
(98) Perfect Season(SAf) - Brown

PREVIOUS WINNERS of the AL FAHIDI FORT (Race 6)
2003: Ipi Tombe(Zim) - Shea/de Kock
2005: Yard Arm(SAf) - Marwing/de Kock
2006: Linngari(Ire) - Shea/Brown
2007: Linngari(Ire) - Shea/Brown
2008: Archipenko(USA) - Shea/de Kock

Even the 1500m would be 'worth a shot' imho!

Wow...I look forward to race 6!!

JJ's MR is 120, so presumably not eligible for either of the races mentioned.

Jay Peg out of the 6th....the course is in shocking condition and heard Silver Mist broke down today....

Dr Who - you da' Man.

Only the 6th GP race, spoted

Sad news Puffin, all the best with Jay Peg?

See home page for photo of J.P.(nice one).

De Kock stars out in force this week


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.

Puffin - bad news about the track - hopefully they sort it out before the big ones. Does Peg automatically qualify for the big race or does he have to re-prove himself in order to get in?

I see Noddy doing some distance. Hopefully he will be given some daylight and will not be crowded out as he was in his last outing. He seems to be a tough bugger and I pray that the hard track does him no harm.

I see my favourite girly runs again in what must be her toughest test to date. I made some good money off her on met day. I had her in a R20.00 treble with Burberry and Mokaro. Paid really well. Also had a straight win R200 on her so all in all made a solid profit. I am a bit confused with how they are weighted for this race though. Temair has a higher MR but is weighted lower than her. I see Richard Fourie carries +1 but the weights still seem strange. Must be the (Grade 3) (Set Weights Plus Penalties (F & M)). Temair and her are both 2 time winners both of a maiden juvenile, one a handicap the other of a novice plate. Could this be the reason why - penalty for winning a handicap? She really does have a tough task but perhaps this is her chance to shut the traps of her critics. I am quite excited by the riding arrangements. There is nothing like a youngsters desire to prove himself and win against the best, cannot be substituted. No disrespect to the experienced.

DECLARATIONS

Race 2, Turf 1500m, 95-110 handicap, $120k
(108) 59.0 Pointing North(SAf) - Mullen/Seemar
(105) 57.5 Stubbs Art(Ire) - Shea/de Kock
(98) 54.5 Glow Star(SAf) - Moore/Brown

Race 3, Dirt 1600m, conditions, $110k
(121) 58.0 Honour Devil(Arg) - Murtagh/de Kock

Race 4, Turf 1200m, 95-110 handicap, $120k
none

Race 5, Dirt 2000m, 90-105 handicap, $110k
(95) 55.0 Naples(Aus) - Shea/de Kock

Race 6, Turf 2400m, 95+ handicap, $150k
(107) 58.0 Bound By Honour(SAf) - Moore/Brown
(102) 56.0 Mr Brock(SAf) - Shea/de Kock

Race 7, Turf 1600m, Group 2, $250k
(118) 57.0 Traffic Guard(USA) - Egan/Brown
(113) 58.5 Imbongi(SAf) - Shea/de Kock
(112) 57.0 Hunting Tower(SAf) - Dettori/de Kock

Race 8, Turf 1500m, 95-110 handicap, $120k
(107) 56.0 Rocks Off(Arg) - Shea/de Kock
(98) 54.5 Perfect Season(SAf) - Latham/Brown
(95) Grand Emporium(SAf) - ???/Bouresly (reserve runner)

Race 9, Turf 2400m, 95+ handicap, $150k
(106) 58.0 Desert Links(SAf) - Latham/Brown

AL...yip we are fortunate enough to have been invited, will do the Duty Free again.
He is sound again but rather than tempt fate with a slightly swollen ankle from the crap track ,Herman decided to take him out and wait until 5th march.
Noddy is very fit and if he doesnt run in the first 3 then we really have a problem...
As for your girlie...nothing like jumping in the deep end?She has it all to do but lets watch with anticipation....re riding arrangements RF is back with basil...taught by the master and come back to ply his trade....