The Herman Brown-trained Jay Peg (Camden Park) wins the Gr 1 Dubai Duty Free under Anton Marcus (Picture: Dubai Racing Club)
Sarah Whitelaw
Earlier this year, it was announced that Mike and Mathew De Kock would be reopening its yard in Dubai for the 2026-2027 Dubai Racing Carnival.
The long-term vision is to return South African thoroughbreds to the global marketplace while also sourcing quality horses from other racing jurisdictions to compete in the Middle East, with an eventual eye on the United States. The USA is of particular interest for South African-bred turf performers, who have demonstrated that they can compete at the highest level while racing for its massive prize money.
South Africa is no stranger to enjoying success at the Dubai Racing Carnival. Southern African bred thoroughbreds have won the Al Quoz Sprint three times, the Dubai Duty Free (now Dubai Turf) twice, the Jebel Hatta three times, the UAE Derby once, the UAE 2000 Guineas twice, the Godolphin Mile three times, and the Al Fahdi Fort twice.
South African bred runners have also gone close to landing the G1 Dubai World Cup.
In 2010, the humbly bred Lizard’s Desire was beaten just a short-head when second in the Dubai World Cup, while Victory Moon ran third, to US stars Pleasantly Perfect and subsequent star sire Medaglia D’Oro, in the 2004 World Cup.
A few memorable Southern African bred runners to grace Dubai include:
Victory Moon c. Al Mufti – Dancing Flower
Winner of his only start in South Africa, Victory Moon campaigned with great success in Dubai.
His six wins in Dubai included the G2 UAE Derby, G2 Maktoum Challenge (Round 3), G3 UAE 2000 Guineas and G3 Maktoum Challenge (Round 2). He also ran third, behind US stars Pleasantly Perfect and Medaglia D’Oro, in the 2004 G1 Dubai World Cup. Victory Moon was crowned Champion 3YO Miler in the UAE in 2003.
Grand Emporium g. National Assembly – Whistling Dixie
The classy Grand Emporium, winner of both the 2004 G1 Triple Crown 1600 and 2004 G1 Daily News 2000 in South Africa, showed top-class form in Dubai. After winning the 2005 G3 Maktoum Challenge, Grand Emporium went on to claim the same year’s G2 Godolphin Mile.
He was crowned UAE’s Horse Of The Year for 2004-2005.
Ipi Tombe: Manshood -Carnet De Danse
One of the finest fillies bred in Southern Africa, Ipi Tombe won 12 of 14 starts, and won major races in South Africa, Dubai and the USA. After winning eight of her first ten starts, including the 2002 G1 Vodacom Durban July, Ipi Tombe was unbeaten in her final four starts. She won all three of her starts in Dubai culminating in a spectacular victory in the 2003 G1 Dubai Duty Free.
Jay Peg c. Camden Park –Laptop Lady
An Equus Champion in South Africa, Jay Peg would retire to stud having earned more than $6.818 million in stakes money. He would win G1 feature races on three different continents, with Jay Peg victorious in both the G1 Bloodstock SA Cape Guineas and G1 Investec Cape Derby in South Africa, the G1 Dubai Duty Free in Dubai and G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup in Singapore. When victorious in the 2008 Dubai Duty Free, Jay Peg accounted for such outstanding international campaigners as Darjina, Archipenko, Vodka and Finsceal Beo.
Lizard’s Desire g. Lizard Island – Annsfield
The humbly bred Lizard’s Desire proved himself a world-class racehorse when he finished second, beaten just a short-head, in both the 2010 G1 Dubai World Cup and 2010 G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup. The globetrotting gelding would go on to enjoy success at the highest level when Lizard’s Desire stormed home to win the 2010 G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup. In a brief career, Lizard’s Desire earned around $4.5 million, while accounting for such high-class performers as Al Shemali, Presvis, Gio Ponti, and Mastery.
Shea Shea g. National Emblem – Yankee Clipper
Shea Shea was a top-class sprinter, who showed high-class form in Britain, Dubai and South Africa. In South Africa, Shea Shea reeled off eight wins including the 2011 G1 Golden Horse Sprint and 2012 G1 Computaform Sprint. Sent to Dubai, Shea Shea would go on to land the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in 2013. He would confirm his status as a world-class sprinter when finishing an unlucky second, beaten just a neck, in the 2013 G1 King’s Stand Stakes.
JJ The Jet Plane g. Jet Master – Majestic Guest
One of the finest sprinters ever bred in South Africa, J J The Jet Plane won 14 of 26 starts, with thistally including six G1 victories. Not only did J J The Jet Plane win two runnings of the Al Quoz Sprint, but he also scored a memorable win in the 2010 G1 Hong Kong Sprint.
Soft Falling Rain c. National Assembly – Gardeners Delight
An unbeaten champion at two in South Africa, Soft Falling Rain would go on to win notable races in both Dubai and Great Britain. He won his first seven races in a row, with this streak including wins in the G1 SA Nursery, G2 Godolphin Mile and G3 UAE 2000 Guineas. In five Dubai starts, Soft Falling Rain won three and ran second to Variety Club in the 2014 G2 Godolphin Mile.
Variety Club c. Var- La Massine
Variety Club was South Africa’s Horse Of The Year in both 2012 and 2013. He won seven graded stakes races in South Africa, four at G1 level, before being exported to Dubai. The chestnut won the G3 Firebreak Stakes, before suffering a surprise defeat in the Burj Nahaar. However, Variety Club would never taste defeat again. After accounting for fellow South African bred champion Soft Falling Rain in the G2 Godolphin Mile, Variety Club made history when romping home to win Hong Kong’s G1 Champions Mile by four lengths.
Vercingetorix c. Silvano – National Vixen
An unbeaten champion in South Africa, Vercingetorix went on to enjoy considerable success on the international stage. He won three of five starts in Dubai, including the 2014 G1 Jebel Hatta, and was runner up in the 2014 G1 Dubai Duty Free (where Vercingetorix accounted for such top-class performers as Dank, Mshawish, and The Fugue among others). Vercingetorix would go on to finish third in the 2014 G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup before returning to South Africa where he has become a champion sire.
