South African trainer Mike de Kock has one eye on the Fifa World Cup as he targets his first Royal Ascot winner.

South African trainer Mike de Kock has one eye on the Fifa World Cup as he targets his first Royal Ascot winner.

“I’d like to see Germany win. I think they play some pretty good football.”

Despite building up a base in Newmarket, from where he’ll send Shea Shea and Soft Falling Rain to the meeting, he’s not caught England fever.

“The bookmakers are getting rich by England going to World Cups and not qualifying.”

“The expectation is always so high but they won’t be under as much pressure as Brazil this year. I’m a fan and enjoy watching it.”

While Royal Ascot doesn’t match the scale of the 32 nations competing in Brazil, it has made a push to attract runners from around the world.

“All the racecourses here – especially Ascot – make you feel really welcome. We only have one or two runners but they treat you as if you have 20. The hospitality is spot on.”

Shea Shea is the eight-time South Africa champion trainer’s leading hope. The sprinter was a narrow second to Sole Power in last year’s King’s Stand Stakes.

“It was a big deal for us. It was a race we targeted and really wanted to win. His preparation’s been good; we’ve got him pretty well.”

In contrast, Soft Falling Rain, who takes on favourite Toronado in the Queen Anne Stakes, the opening race of the meeting, “didn’t travel well back from Dubai”.

“It’s not ideal. He’s a high class animal so hopefully we’ll get away with it.”

Soft Falling Rain’s win in Newmarket’s Nayef Joel Stakes in September provided De Kock’s biggest UK victory since Archipenko’s Summer Mile success in 2008.

He believes his present Ascot duo could be the best he’s run in Britain.

“Archipenko was a serious horse. But they would be close to it.”

De Kock, 50, has reached the highest level in South Africa, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong but, like both his contenders at Ascot, is yet to break the Group One barrier in the UK.

“Royal Ascot is definitely a target. Before, when we didn’t have a base here, everything was a little bit different: everything was Dubai. We’re now starting to think a little more long-term. This is the first year actually that we have. So hopefully it will come to fruition.”