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De Kock reveals prep race for World Cup hope Asiatic Boy


by Jason Ford
.

MIKE DE KOCK has revealed a surprise prep race for his Dubai World Cup hope Asiatic Boy, who will make his eagerly awaited return to action at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday night over 6f.

De Kock has targeted the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint, the dirt feature of the second week of the $31million Dubai International Racing Carnival.

Winner of his four starts in the UAE last year, when he became the first horse to win the UAE Triple Crown, connections nominated the 2008 $6million Dubai World Cup as his next main target. He is Coral's 8-1 co-third favourite.

Subsequently raced twice in the UK, he returned to Dubai at the end of the summer and was widely expected to contest two legs of the Maktoum Challenge before the big race. However, having missed Thursday's Maktoum Challenge I, De Kock has announced a revised itinerary commencing next Thursday.

He explained: “Obviously six furlongs is on the short side for him but he has so much natural speed and talent we are confident he will be highly competitive even against sprinters. It may be a strange concept for the Europeans but we do it a lot in South Africa and the Australians do it all the time.

“This will be his first steps towards the World Cup and that is the ultimate goal –it is the world'srichest horse race. He is ready for a run and the six furlongs should be the ideal comeback for him.

“He remains a very exciting prospect and we were far from unhappy with his European campaign when he ran against the very best. We will see how he gets on Thursday before planning the rest of his build-up but at least one leg of the Maktoum Challenge would appear logical.”

Dubai World Cup
Coral: 6-4 Curlin, 4 Premium Tap, 8 Asiatic Boy, Happy Boy, Literato, 10 Daaher, 14 Daiwa Scarlet, 16 bar