Dubai: It might have taken longer than expected, but the ice was finally broken when Fanciful Angel became the first European-trained winner at the 2016 Dubai World Cup Carnival on a night when South African powerhouse Mike de Kock won an unparalleled eighth Group 2 $200,000 (Dh734,600) Al Rashidiya.
Not only did De Kock win the 1,800 metre turf contest for the fifth successive year with up-and-comer Forries Waltz, he also saddled the runner-up, Ertijaal and fourth-placed Mujaarib, to stamp his authority on the event which acts as a precursor to the world’s richest turf race, the Group 1 $6 million Dubai Duty (formerly Dubai Duty Free) on March 26.
Salem Bin Ghadayeer’s Earnshaw finished third to thwart a De Kock sweep of the top three placings.
However, what should have been a memorable night for De Kock was shattered by the death of one of his horses, Royal Ridge in the Bab Al Shams Handicap, and a life-threatening injury to Rock Cocktail who broke his pelvis in the night’s closing race at Meydan on Thursday.
“Royal Ridge ran the best race of his career in Dubai. He looked very well and came running along hard late in the contest,” the South African trainer great said on his website. Jockey Dane O’Neill came back full of praise afterwards, explaining how well Royal Ridge had felt accelerating under him. Moments later the horse was dead.
“Rock Cocktail was taken to the Equine Hospital and we’ll be waiting for a report on his condition. These incidents just brought us back to earth after a truly mesmerising evening. Our runners made us very proud tonight.”
Commenting on his incredible record in the Al Rashidiya, De Kock said at Meydan: “It’s a race that we have targeted every year and it’s nice to win it again.
“I suppose on paper Ertijaal was the horse to beat, but Forries Waltz has risen to the occasion in good, solid style and is becoming a horse of note.
“But I would expect a massive improvement from the second horse [Ertijaal],” the trainer added. “He’s by Hard Spun and he’s got a style of running that could suit the dirt, we can’t lose anything by giving it [dirt] at try.”
Multiple French champion jockey Christophe Soumillon, who was aboard Forries Waltz, saluted the genius of De Kock and said with admiration and respect: “You need to have a good trainer like him and a great team and also owners who are confident with us.
“I’m very proud for everyone because we work hard for winners and winners like him are very important for us.”
De Kock also supplied the first three home in Bab Al Shams turf handicap and again Soumillon, when Anaerobio caught Banaadeer on the line and Royal Ridge ran on from the rear to finish third before he suffered his fatal heart-attack while being watered down.
Meanwhile. Marco Botti was saddling his second Carnival winner and first since Jakkalberry won the Dubai City of Gold in March 2013, when he sent out German 2000 Guineas (G2) runner-up Fanciful Angel to win the closing race on the card.
The winner of a Listed race on the polytrack in England last season, Fanciful Angel dug deep to hold off the Brendan Powell-trained Dark Emerald for a neck victory.
“He has stayed on in good style,” said O’Neill. “I was a bit short of room at one point but when we found daylight about 300m from home he picked up nicely. I imagine the run will bring him on fitness wise.”
The in-form pairing of Doug Watson/Pat Dobbs combined to win the Terrace Brunch at Meydan Racecourse handicap with Cool Cowboy while Godolphin’s Jungle Cat looked a very impressive winner of the Shiba At The Meydan Handicap.
