Asiatic Boy

[Sightseek]

*marks calendar*

[my miss storm cat]

Okay well figured I'd post this here.....

He's heading back to Dubai in a few days and that's it till the Carnival.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Okay well figured I'd post this here.....

He's heading back to Dubai in a few days and that's it till the Carnival.

No dirt racing in America? Phooey!

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

No dirt racing in America? Phooey!

I'm starting to wonder if Mike De Kock doesn't like racing in America. I know he sent Irridescence over there a few weeks back, but that was only because she was being sold out there and he thought he may as well give her one more run under his name.

He has been on the go since February/March this year, so it's been a long season for him, even though he hasn't had much racing. South Africa - Dubai - England is quite a bit for any horse, and sending him to America might have taken the edge off him.

They couldn't have got worse luck with the weather over here this summer, and i bet De Kock is very frustrated. I still think he would have won the Juddmonte with firm ground, but yet again the rain came in time for the overrated and lucky Authorized.

[my miss storm cat]

A press release.....


Asiatic Boy returns to Dubai after unplaced finish in Juddmonte Stakes
Authorised (Frankie Dettori) wins the Juddmonte from Dylan Thomas. (racingpost.co.uk)

ASIATIC Boy was beaten seven lengths into fifth spot behind star three-year-old Authorised in Tuesday's Group 1 Juddmonte International over 2000m at York, but Mike de Kock was upbeat after the race.

He commented: ``Asiatic Boy moved up smartly halfway down the straight, so well that he was spotted by the commentator as being full of running, but he was balked at a crucial stage and had to switch for a run. His big action was interrupted and we had no chance from there in this league.’’

He added: ``We could never have won the race, but Jamie Spencer felt that the interference probably cost Asiatic Boy third place. They were out of touch over the last 200m and he was eased down. I have to add too that the track was soft in places. He didn't enjoy that and struggled down the back straight. I also believe that on the heavy track he was stretched to the full.''

Asiatic Boy will be shipped back to De Kock’s Dubai base shortly and the trainer said: ``English racing is hard and we’ve been competing in the highest divisions. The tracks are all markedly different and you need specialist runners all over. My horses have not been disgraced here, they’ve earned their way and the exercise has been well worthwhile.’’

Asiatic Boy’s next appearance will be in the 2008 Dubai Racing Carnival, during which he will be prepared for the Dubai World Cup. De Kock, on his way home later this week, concluded: ``We will have a few more runners in the UK later this season. This has been a learning curve, but I am more than ever determined to make the grade here. We’ll be back!’’

[brockguy]

an update on the champ.. from the racingpost

ASIATIC BOY, last seen when fifth to Authorized in the Juddmonte International at York, has left Britain for Dubai and will not run in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The four-year-old's trainer Mike de Kock reported that the horse had travelled over well and was being freshened for another campaign at the Dubai International Racing Carnival, where he took a starring role earlier this year, winning four races culminating in a nine-and-a-half-length romp in the UAE Derby.

De Kock said Asiatic Boy will be aimed at the Maktoum Challenge series in 2008 before a tilt at the Dubai World Cup itself.

“He arrived in Dubai about a week ago,” said the trainer. “He's in good form and is being freshened up before building up for the Carnival with a prep run beforehand.”
After his spectacular progress in Dubai, Asiatic Boy fared less well this summer on turf in Britain, finishing fourth behind Ramonti in the Sussex Stakes before taking on Authorized at York.

“There is no doubt that he is an awesome horse on the dirt,” De Kock added. “Looking backat his runs in England, the form has worked out well. Ten furlongs at York would have been stretching him a bit and the ground didn't really suit him either.

“I will talk with the owners, but after the World Cup I think he will go to America. I would think about running him on the turf there too if the ground came up firm.”
--------------
Well, it may have come a year too late...

[NoChanceToDance]

He just got very unlucky with the weather we had this Summer. Whereas Authorized got very lucky.

Mike De Kock has always been convinced he is a better horse on turf. Who would have thought all of our top class summer races would be run on ground describe as good to soft at best.

Very unlucky.

[brockguy]

I had to bring this thread up again as I believe I read that Asiatic Boy just "didn't like the UK" this summer. It was in the racingpost a few days ago but I havent been able to find it yet. One massive question though - WHY WAS HE IN THE UK THIS SUMMER??? I thought it was pretty certain that he would go to the US and run.. This is just stupid, I just can't believe it.

He'll next be seen in Dubai over the Winter.

EDIT just found it:

THE famous dark blue colours of Coolmore Stud's Sue and John Magnier will be represented at the 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival, through the leading South African-trained filly Front House.

The Magniers have been represented only once before in the United Arab Emirates, through Powerscourt, who wasfifth to Phoenix Reach in the 2005 Dubai Sheema Classic.

John Magnier owns Front House in partnership with Mary Slack, while the filly is trained by Mike De Kock, who most recently saddled the daughter of Sadler's Wells to victory in the Grade 2 Gold Circle Oaks at Clairwood in South Africa on July 26.

De Kock said: “She's one of nearly 40 horses we're taking to Dubai, and she's done really well for us. She's a most exciting broodmare prospect, and hopefully will come back to Slack's WilgerbosdriftStud after running overseas.”

Of two of his other stars, Summer Mile winner and Arlington Million runner-up Archipenko, and Dubai World Cup second Asiatic Boy, De Kock said: “We are thinking of either the Champion Stakes or Breeders' Cup for Archipenko and at this stage we're leaning towards the first option.

“Asiatic Boy's coming back to Dubai – he just hasn't settled in England.”