Via Africa ready for Al Quoz
VIA Africa, South Africa’s hope in the $1 million Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint over 1 000m on World Cup night in Dubai (Saturday), completed her final grass prep under Johnny Geroudis on the Meydan turf.
Coming into the home straight, Geroudis asked the five-year old mare to stretch out and she accelerated impressively down the turf.
Mike de Kock, who was watching from the grandstand, was well pleased with the final workout, adding that while Via Africa took a while to adapt to Dubai, she was in top form.
Geroudis was equally impressed, saying the mare felt good and quickened up nicely when asked.
“She needed that last run in the Meydan Sprint and despite not having raced for nine months, she was running at them and only finished 1.75 lengths off the winner. She will have come on from that run and while she is meeting a strong field in the Al Quoz, I expect a very good run from her,” said De Kock.
Mubtaahij (IRE), a three-yearold colt by Dubawi, owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and trained by De Kock, is currently the favourite for the $2 million Gr 2 UAE Derby.
De Kock confirmed the plan was for Mubtaahij to contest the Kentucky Derby should he finish in the first two come Saturday.
He did, however, caution that while the horse may be favourite, he faces stiff competition from the Japanese contingent as well as the two Godolphin entries.
In the $1 million Gr2 Dubai Gold Cup, De Kock saddles Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Almoonqith (USA), which he considers to be his best chance on the night. “He is a very versatile horse. He has shown that he has the speed to win over a mile and yet he has the stamina to win over 2 800m as well.”
Other De Kock entries include Pylon and Prayer For Relief (USA) in the Gr2 Godolphin Mile, Umgiyo (AUS) in the Gr1 Dubai Turf and Star Empire and Mushreq (AUS) in the Gr2 Dubai Gold Cup.