7 World Cup night invites for Mike de Kock; Variety Club in too

The Joe Ramsden-trained Variety Club has been invited to contest the Godolphin Mile.

Sanshaawes finished second in last week’s Grade 1 Al Maktoum Challenge (Round 3) over the DWC course and distance, 2000m on the all-weather, and will take on some of the world’s best for the big cash.

The De Kock yard’s other accepted invitations are: Jalotta (UAE Derby) Shea Shea (Al Quoz Sprint) Soft Falling Rain (Godolphin Mile) Vercingetorix (Dubai Duty Free) Mars (Sheema Classic) Star Empire (Gold Cup)

De Kock said: “We’ll have good representation for South Africa across the board and we’re looking forward to the occasion. Congratulations to the various owners who will have runners.”

Mushreq had a chance to get an invitation into the Dubai Duty Free on condition he could win the Grade 3 Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday, the biggest thoroughbred race of the season on the UAE capital’s turf track. However, the Paul Hanagan-ridden runner was touched off by Jamr, trained by Ahmad bin Harmash and ridden by Adrie de Vries. The only time the pair led in the 2400m feature, the final race at Abu Dhabi this season, was on the line, denying Mushreq in the process.

De Vries said: “We knew Jamr would run well and thought Mushreq was the one we had to beat, so I was happy to track him into the straight.

“A gap appeared on the inside so I went through that and he then ran on very strongly. As we crossed the line I was pretty hopeful we had won – our head was down where it mattered.”” – mikedekockracing.com, racingpost.co.uk (Picture: ANDREW WATKINS/DUBAI RACING CLUB)

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