De Kock Waltzes home with 8th World Cup Carnival win

Jockey Christophe Soumillon powers Forries Waltz to victory during the Al Rashidiya race at the Medyan in Dubai on Thursday night.

The Dubai World Cup Carnival took another interesting turn when in-form Mike de Kock produced a dominating training performance at the fourth meeting on Thursday night, saddling three winners, two seconds and one third on his way to an eighth Group 2 Al Rashidiya success, courtesy of the resurgent Forries Waltz.
Belgian jockey, Christophe Soumillon claimed his fifth victory in the Al Rashidiya when he guided Forries Waltz to victory over stable companion, Ertijaal ridden by Paul Hanagan. De Kock's Mujaarib, his 2014 winner of the race, ran on late to take fourth under Dane O'Neill. The victory represented the fifth consecutive Al Rashidiya win for De Kock.
"It was a great effort from both horses," said De Kock. "It was a big step up in class for Forries Waltz after his win here two weeks ago. We thought he was up to this level and has proved he is.
The trainer then provided the first three home in a 1400m turf handicap and again Soumillon denied Hanagan, this time in the very final strides when Anaerobio caught Banaadeer. Royal Ridge ran on from the rear to finish third and complete a remarkable 40 minutes for De Kock and his Blue Stables team.
Godolphin's Jungle Cat was very impressive when winning the 1200m turf Shiba At The Meydan Handicap, registering an easy success under William Buick for trainer Charlie Appleby.
The meeting concluded with a 1600m turf handicap with both first and second trained in England. The Brendan Powell-trained Dark Emerald was a real star of the 2015 Dubai World Cup Carnival and looked the likely winner when he hit the front at the 200m pole under Richard Mullen.
Kifaah, owned by Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe claimed the 1200m Prime at The Meydan Hotel Handicap under Hanagan. Hanagan was paying his second visit to the Winner's Enclosure having ridden the same owner's Alareef to victory for trainer De Kock in the opening 1400m Al Forsan At Bab Al Shams Handicap.