De Kock’s Dubai World Cup Carnival crew nearly at full strength

Trainer getting his horses and riders back together after lengthy delays

South African trainer Mike de Kock could soon have his Dubai World Cup Carnival crew back together after extensive delays. Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

NEWMARKET, ENGLAND // Mike de Kock’s Dubai World Cup Carnival string will be reunited Friday night in Dubai as a team of 16 horses that went through quarantine in Mauritius fly out from England that morning.

South African stars such as Heavy Metal, the Durban July winner, Vercintgetorix, the unbeaten champion three-year-old colt, and Rumya, the Durban Golden Slipper winner, will fly direct courtesy of Janah, the international equine transport company of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and ruler of Dubai.

They will meet up with stablemates who spent the summer in England – such as Shea Shea, this year’s Al Quoz sprint winner, and The Apache, who was disqualified in the Arlington Million in August – and arrived in Dubai last Friday.

Four work riders and a farrier will also travel to Dubai from Newmarket, as De Kock assembles his team in an effort to better his tally of 118 Carnival victories.

De Kock’s Mauritius squad arrived at Abington Place at the start of November, having endured a difficult trip to get there. From the Indian Ocean republic, the squad took a 50-hour journey to England.

“The conditions were shocking,” said Steve Jell, De Kock’s assistant. “The whole process was shocking, and one of our staff said it is the worst trip he’s ever been on.”

As a result of a delay to De Kock’s plans earlier this year, the Mauritius string remain behind in their training for the Carnival, which starts at Meydan Racecourse on January 9.