3 minute read
Trainer Mike de Kock has grand designs of running Shea Shea in the King's Stand Stakes and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The star South African speedball claimed the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night, a victory which elevated him to the forefront of the betting for both races at the Royal meeting in June.
Shea Shea arrived at De Kock's Newmarket satellite yard from Dubai on May 10 and has reportedly adjusted to his new surroundings with consummate ease.
De Kock said: "Shea Shea is a happy horse. He has been taking in his new regime very well. It isn't easy to adjust to all the changes, but things have gone very well.
"That (King's Stand) is the primary option, but I'm also going to leave him in the Jubilee. It's about a week between the races, so, providing he comes back sound from the King's Stand, we may as well try our luck in the big city and go for both. We're here for a good time, not a long time."
Stablemate Soft Falling Rain was on the same Dubai flight to England as Shea Shea. The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned four-year-old went three races unbeaten at Meydan, with victory in the Godolphin Mile the highlight.
His trainer will resist the temptation to run Soft Falling Rain in the Queen Anne Stakes on June 18, and will instead revert to six furlongs for the Diamond Jubilee.
"Soft Falling Rain is not as mature as Shea Shea so we've had to be a bit more cautious with him. We've had to freshen him up a bit since the (Dubai) Carnival as he put his heart and soul into his last race. We'll be leaving him in the Jubilee, but he won't be running in that (Queen Anne)," said De Kock.
Kavanagh was last seen finishing fifth in the KrisFlyer International Sprint at Kranji and will join Shea Shea and Soft Falling Rain at Abington Place in Newmarket this weekend. The six-year-old gelding will sidestep Royal Ascot in preference to a possible tilt at the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on July 13.
De Kock said: "Kavanagh ran a good race in Singapore but was interfered with on the turn and would have otherwise been in the top three. He'll get into Newmarket on Sunday from Singapore, and we'll obviously give that (July Cup) some thought."
