Mike de Kock does not want his horses tired out by quarantine problems
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)De Kock Dubai warning over quarantine wrangle
South Africa: Mike de Kock has issued a warning that his Durban July winner Igugu and other top South African horses will miss next year's Dubai Carnival and stay at home unless the present stringent quarantine regulations are relaxed.
Quarantine issues are threatening to derail the participation of European-trained horses at the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Now, in an unrelated development, Dubai carnival legend De Kock is facing a similar problem before next year's Meydan jamboree.
South African horses going to Dubai used to have to spend 30 days in Europe after quarantine at Kenilworthracecourse, but outbreaks of the deadly African Horse Sickness earlier this changed all that. The European Union imposed an automatic two-year ban and the only way out of the country is now via Mauritius.
However, the quarantine period there has been increased from 30 days to 90 and horses then still have to go to Europe for a further 30 days before they can be admitted to Dubai.
De Kock warned that he might be forced to turn his back on the event at which he made his name on the international scene.
He said: "I am not going to put horses like Igugu, Mushreq and Safwan through the long and tiresome process of being shipped via Mauritius and spending more than 150 days to get to their destination.
"If they can't fly from Cape Town to get there within reasonable time, they won't go at all."
De Kock hit out at what he sees as intrusive quarantine protocols immediately after Igugu won South Africa's greatest race, the Durban July, as Greyville two weeks ago.
"There is no scientific evidence to support the current protocol, yet it remains in place and we are essentially stranded," he added.
"The existing situation will have grave consequences for the racing industry's trade with the rest of the world and it will result in a loss of income across the board. It is up to our trading partners to show the scientific and political will to assist us. We are hoping that good sense will prevail."
Igugu is owned by Dubai-based Sheikh Khalifa Al Maktoum, de Kock's principal patron, who wants his star filly to take on the horses of his cousins, the Maktoums, in his own country.
De Kock now also trains for Hamdan Al Maktoum whose Mushreq came close to giving him his first South African Grade 1 in the Golden Horseshoe on July day.
African Horse Sickness, carried by midges, kills several horses with every outbreak and other countries go to great lengths to stop it being carried, hence the two-year ban.
Racing South Africa boss Peter Gibson has approached the United Arab Emirates to allow a limited number of direct flights during the South African winter (June and July) when the midges are killed off.
In the meantime, De Kock is keeping his stars on the move, saying: "We'll prepare our runners in the hope that a directflight will be approved."
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