Mike de Kock – quiet start
Trainer Mike de Kock saddles his first runner of the UAE season when USA-bred Pertinacious makes his debut at Jebel Ali today.
Tabnews reports that the colt is by Smart Strike and has a big price tag, having fetched $200,000 (R2.5 million) at the OBS Breeze-Up Sales in Florida in April.
Pertinacious, one of five juveniles in the 15-runner event, won’t need to be above average to make a serious impression. He will be partnered by Irish rider Colm O’Donoghue for prominent local owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa.
The De Kock runner lines up in the fifth race, the Commercial Bank Of Dubai Maiden over 1400m.
For the record, Pertinacious’ name means very determined and refusing to be defeated by problems.
