Dubai: Tonight's Cape Verdi, a Group 3 race sponsored by Derrinstown Stud and a feature event for fillies and mares, is likely to finish with another winner from Mike de Kock's yard.
The South African trainer is strongly represented by Front House and Inca Noble with the former making her UAE debut under in-form jockey Kevin Shea. The four-year-old Saddler's Wells' filly comes in with a huge reputation and if the stable's form is taken into consideration, should be the one to beat.
Stablemate Inca Noble adds to de Kock's chances in this $200,000 (Dh735,000) race on turf over eight furlongs and will be ridden by John Murtagh, with the benefit of a run here.
The other South African trainer Herman Brown is also double-handed with My Central making her UAE debut while Happy Spirit finishing ahead of Inca Noble in her 5th place finish behind Miss Gorcia.
Challenging the South Africans will be Saudi-based Jerry Barton who runs his filly Deem, unbeaten in three starts while Mick Channon's Eva's Request and German raider Peace Royale from Andreas Wohler's yard are also strong contenders in this turf contest. Like the Cape Verdi, the Marju Trophy, a turf race over 6.5 furlongs has attracted an equally class field with Herman Brown's Narc returning to the scene where he finished 9th to Benny The Bull in the Gulf News sponsored Dubai Golden Shaheen last year on Dubai World Cup night.
The top weight will however have to contend with de Kock's pair - Imbongi and Drift Ice - while Erwan Charpy's Munaddam and Rashid Bouresly's Star Crowned are capable of running a big race.
Godolphin's Hatta Fort, sixth behind Hunting Tower on his turf debut will be looking to improve on that run under Frankie Dettori and make this $175,000 race that much more exciting.
Apart from the two Al Maktoum Challenge races, four other contests complete the card of eight races in this fourth meeting of the Dubai International Racing Carnival.
