BOLD SILVANO, pictured winning at Meydan last year.

THE Mike de Kock stable is very excited about the return of Dubai World Cup hope Bold Silvano, who will be running in the Firebreak Stakes over 1600m on Meydan’s Tapeta track at 6.55pm (South African time) on Thursday.

“While it’s a distance short of his best, I’m expecting him to run well,” said Mike. “He’s looking exceptional. And he’ll make major improvement.”

Bold Silvano sustained an injury in the lead-up to last year’s $10-million Dubai World Cup and has not raced since winning Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge at this race meeting last year. He underwent an intensive six months of rehabilitation at Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s Newmarket stables and has been in Dubai since November. “He’s had a steady and easy programme into racing,” said Mike. “It’s exciting to have him back.”

Bold Silvano will be ridden by Christophe Soumillon.

Mike is hoping that Master Of Hounds (Soumillon) can give him the Maktoum Challenge R2 trophy double. He will also saddle old soldier Hunting Tower (Kevin Shea), who is nine now and having his fourth season in Dubai, in the race.

Master Of Hounds, a new recruit to the stable this year, made an ultra-promising debut for the stable in Round 1 of the Al Maktoum Challenge over 1600m on 12 January, finishing runner-up to his top-class stable companion Musir.

Says Mike: “Master Of Hounds has improved since that run. He’s still not 100% fit as yet, but has come on quite a bit since that race.

“All the horses are really being built up to Super Saturday (on 10 March) and Dubai World Cup night (on 31 March) and most of them will improve for the runs.”

The other big race on the card is the UAE 2000 Guineas over 1600m on the Tapeta. Mike sends out Mickdaam (Soumillon), another new recruit formerly trained by Richard Fahey, who made his debut for the stable in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial and finished his race well to run sixth behind Dark Matter.

“He’s made considerable improvement since that race and he’s better suited to this distance, and more, than the 1400m of that race. I’m also expecting a big run out of him,” said Mike.

Another big name runner, Irish Flame (Shea), will be having his first run in Dubai this season, coming in off a confidence-boosting win at Kempton in November. He will line up in the Dubal Potlines Trophy over 2435m on the turf track.

“He’s a far better horse this year than he was last year,” said Mike. “He’s doing very well in work and is happier.

“He’ll be running on the turf track, which this year is better than it was last year – it’s riding good to soft, which he will enjoy. I’m expecting a big run.

“I’m hoping to run him in the City Of Gold on Super Saturday and he’s done enough to be very competitive.”

Mr Brock (Shea), another of the yard’s hard-knocking campaigners, runs in the 2200m handicap (Race 2 at 5.05pm SA time) and Mike is “expecting him to be very competitive”.

The stable’s two runners in the final race, the Dubal Trophy over 1800m on the Tapeta are Mutahadee (Soumillon) and Anaerobio (Pat Cosgrave).

“Mutahadee is not a horse who gives confidence in home workouts, but showed his ability last time when winning over 1800m on the turf track. He’s a very impressive individual, who won very well. He was handed a 5lb (2.5kg) penalty for that win and will be giving weight away to all his rivals, but based on that run, he should go close.

“Anaerobio is the fittest we’ve had him and also I expect him to run very well.”