Mike de Kock’s Silvano duo of Janoobi and Al Sahem will carry the South African flag on Dubai World Cup night on Saturday 31 March.
Al Sahem and Janoobi in action
Gauteng Guineas winner Janoobi will line up the Gr1 US$6-million Dubai Turf over 1800m.
“We’ve been thinking of the Gr1 Champions Mile in Hong Kong and the Gr1 Kranji Mile in Singapore as next possible targets because Janoobi will be ideally course and distance suited, but we will be discussing this with Sheikh Hamdan. He enjoys having a strong contingent of runners on Dubai World Cup night and on his Jebel Hatta showing Janoobi will have a chance of sharing in the prize money in the Dubai Turf. I’m glad we don’t have to go for the Godolphin Mile on sand. We will please Sheikh Hamdan, ” said de Kock.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s Al Sahem will be aimed at the US$1million Gr2 Dubai Gold Cup over 3200m. He will be ridden by SA Champion jockey Anthony Delpech, who was aboard when he won the 2017 Gr1 SA Derby.
Arch rivals – but they run in seperate races
Al Sahem was doing his best work in the latter part of his prep run in the Gr2 Dubai City Of Gold over 2410m, finishing fifth to Hawkbill.
Mike said on ww.mikedekockracing.com : “That was a very good run by Al Sahem, he is coming to his best. He ran on from the back against proper international Gr1 horses and I have little doubt he will see out 2 miles in the Gold Cup. We finished third with Zanzamar in 2013 and second with Star Empire in 2015 and he’s arguably a better horse than both of those.”
