Master Of Hounds has impressed new trainer Mike de Kock
PICTURE: Getty ImagesMaster Of Hounds heads De Kock team for Dubai
UAE: South Africa's champion trainer Mike de Kock will have a team of 24 for the forthcoming Dubai World Cup Carnival - even though the African Horse Sickness ban means that he has to leave his latest domestic stars at home.
De Kock has been a dominant force at the carnival since its inception and the raiding party includes his latest acquisition from Ballydoyle, Master Of Hounds, who was second in this year's UAE Derby before finishing fifth in the Kentucky Derby.
Others include last year's Durban July one-two Bold Silvano and Irish Flame, this year's UAE 1,000 Guineas winner Mahbooba, the much-travelled River Jetez and last year's Irish 2,000 Guineas and Coral-Eclipse third Viscount Nelson.
De Kock assesses each of the 24 on his website and his comments include: "Master Of Hounds has impressed us. He is talented and his work is good. He is a horse with plenty of potential that could be anything.
"Bold Silvano is extremely well, has been in full work for a while and is one of our Dubai World Cup hopefuls.
"Irish Flame couldn't get into the Hong Kong race we had planned for him but he's a different horse than he was last season.
"Mahbooba enjoyed a successful season in Europe. She's fresh, looking good and working well. River Jetez is rising nine and I haven't ever trained a mare as old as this. They can be tricky to assess but she's well.
"Viscount Nelson is a horse we are leasing from Coolmore. He's had more problems than the Greek economy but he could be anything and we are quite excited about him."
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