Small setback before the big night for De Kock

While Mike de Kock seeks clarity over Pat Cosgrave’s six-month ban, the South African trainer continues his preparation for Saturday and talks up Sanshaawes’ Dubai World Cup bid, writes Geoffrey Riddle.

Racing manager Angus Gold, left, jockey Paul Hanagan and trainer Mike de Kock talk after Soft Falling Rain worked at Meydan Racecourse on Monday. Andrew Watkins / Dubai Racing Club

Mike de Kock has called for a clarification of the Emirates Racing Authority rules of racing at the end of the UAE season after the six-month suspension meted out to Patrick Cosgrave last week.

Cosgrave was found by the ERA stewards to have ridden improperly when coming off the rail on Anaerobio in the Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday on March 8.

The jockey appeared to look around at least three times before allowing his horse to drift several horse widths away from the rail, which allowed stablemate Vercingetorix an easy run through on his way to a two-length victory.

Unlike in cycling, team tactics are prohibited in thoroughbred horse racing to varying degrees internationally.

Whereas in other racing jurisdictions, such as Britain, there is a clearly defined entry and exit point for bans of between five and 10 days, the UAE, like certain states in America, has none.

“At the end of the season, this incident should bring to a head what race rules we actually race under,” the South African trainer said at his Blue Stables facility. “What is this six-month ban based on? A precedent in Europe? Australia? Where?

“There should be an entry and exit level, like elsewhere. We need to unify things throughout the world, let’s face it.”

Cosgrave has lodged an appeal against the findings, which had no evidence to implicate De Kock and, as such, the ERA are in no position to comment on the situation until Cosgrave’s hearing is over.

“It would be inappropriate to comment at this stage given that the matter is under appeal,” said John Zucal, the ERA chief steward.

“Stewards transcripts are being prepared along with all other documentation to progress the appeal hearing. ERA will advise when an appeal date has been set.”

With Cosgrave’s suspension backdated to March 17, Anton Marcus will ride Anaerobio in the Dubai Duty Free at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday for round two with Vercingetorix. The appeal hearing is certain to take on a different complexion should Anaerobio prevail in a fair fight to the line.

The duo are just part of a huge team for De Kock, who will have eight runners across the US$27.25 million (Dh100m) eight-race thoroughbred card as he looks to improve on his haul of nine wins on the most lucrative night of international racing.

Shea Shea and Soft Falling Rain defend their respective crowns in the Al Quoz Sprint and the Godolphin Mile and, although Shea Shea is clearly De Kock’s best chance of the night, his team is headed by the World Cup bid of Sanshaawes.

Sanshaawes had just a maiden race win when he arrived in Dubai from South Africa, but he has improved rapidly in the UAE. After he had picked up two handicaps over the World Cup surface and distance this season, De Kock had a hunch.

Ahead of Super Saturday, he consulted his assistants and Sanshaawes’s owner, Sheikh Ahmed, son of De Kock’s patron Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa.

“There was a big debate whether to run him in the Jebel Hatta or World Cup prep but the Sheikh felt we should take our chance,” De Kock said.

Sure enough, Sanshaawes showed World Cup form when going down to Godolphin’s Prince Bishop in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 two weeks ago.

Monterosso in 2012 and Gloria De Campeao in 2010 both graduated to a victory in the World Cup from a defeat in the Al Maktoum Challenge and, as Sanshaawes travelled almost nine lengths further than Prince Bishop on the outside of the field, De Kock believes he is in with a sporting chance of securing his first win in the race.

“He needs to improve to win and we need a bit of luck,” De Kock said. “I bought him because I liked the way he finished his races. He used to be a hell of a finisher, so I thought there was a lot of potential.

“He must be very close to his limit, but I think we can squeeze a few pounds of improvement out of him. Every time he runs he has stepped up, so we don’t really know where the ceiling is.”

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