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De Kock Pins Hope on Musir

DUBAI - The 2010 UAE Derby, sponsored by The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, is surely the best ever renewal of the Group 2 1900m contest, to be run on the All Weather track for the first time.

Remarkably, only two trainers have ever won the $2million contest and that statistic looks likely to remain intact with Saeed bin Suroor (six wins) and South African Mike De Kock (four) both well represented.

Frankie Dettori rides the unbeaten Mendip for bin Suroor who has impressed with the manner of his two victories during the Carnival, including over course and distance on Super Thursday. Ted Durcan partners stable companion Enak, third in that same race and bin Suroor said: “Mendip is a horse we have always really liked and he has done nothing wrong to date. Obviously this is his hardest task to date but he has been working well and we are hopeful.

“That was a better run from Enak last time and hopefully he can build on that.”

New trainer Mahmoud Al Zarooni saddles a pair of former bin Suroor inmates with Ahmed Ajtebi on Frozen Power, a turf winner at the Meydan Masters meeting and Aaron Gryder on UAE 1000 Guineas heroine Siyaadah.

Mike de Kock seeks a fifth win in the race and Musir (in picture), Champion Juvenile in South Africa last year, would appear his best chance. Winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas, as had three of his four previous winners of this race, he will again be partnered by Christophe Soumillon.

Kevin Shea rides Raihana, winner of the UAE Oaks, with Keagan Latham on Solid Choice and Corey Brown on Mr Crazy Boy but de Kock clearly rates Musir his main hope: “He is a quality individual and probably the most classy three year-old we have campaigned in Dubai.

“He may not be as robust as an Asiatic Boy which is why we missed Super Thursday. He has a lot of speed but I think he will stay the trip and Christophe is adamant he will.

“Raihana is a Classic winner and the other pair will be staying on but Musir is the main hope.”

The Jerry Barton-trained Della Barba chased home Mendip last time and Olivier Peslier maintains the partnership, while stable companion and UAE debutante Makaanah looks an interesting recruit.

Scandinavian challenger Timely Jazz ran well when chasing home Frozen Power on turf and was just in front of Oroveso.

He is trained by Pascal Bary and looks the stable first string judges on jockey bookings. Tiago Pereira partners him with Kieren Fallon on stable companion Uncle Tom who has twice been beaten by Mendip but is surely better than able to demonstrate on the second occasion.