De Kock oozes confidence at Hong Kong cup

Hong Kong: An extremely bullish Mike de Kock oozed confidence at Sha Tin yesterday ahead of Eagle Mountain's crack at the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Cup.

The South African, champion international trainer at the Dubai International Carnival for the past five years, sends out the four year old colt on the back of an excellent second at the Breeders' Cup Turf in October.

After drawing gate five in the 2000-metre contest de Kock said: "I'm happy with that, it's a good slot, but he's a versatile horse anyway. He's as fit as a fiddle and as good as I've ever had him.

"This horse is as good as Archipenko and look at what that horse has achieved over the past year.

"We know what it takes to win in Hong Kong and Eagle Mountain has certainly got the ability to win here."

Glory

De Kock saddled Archipenko, like Eagle Mountain owned by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, to victory in April's Group 1 Audemar Piguet QEII at Sha Tin and would like to taste more glory overseas.

"It would be great to get another international victory for the Shaikh who is a great boss to work for, the type of person you really want to succeed for and this race is Hong Kong's showpiece and the one they all want out here."

In the Vase, De Kock's fellow South African Herman Brown thinks a strong pace can help his Mourilyan, a 20-1 chance with British bookmakers in a market headed by Doctor Dino, spring a surprise.

"It's an open race, there's no particular horse that qualifies as a danger above all others.

"Tactically we just want them to go as fast as possible, the quicker the better as fast as we're concerned because he will kick on from that.

"The draw is unimportant, what he needs is a bit of racing luck. I expect he'll be three-back along the rails and if he gets luck he'll be hard to beat."