Trainer Mike de Kock had cause to admonish his supporters this week: "Please relax!"You might jump to the conclusion that this was because of a shock-horror parting of the ways with his long-time stable jockey Anthony Delpech. But, no, it was because one of his horses finished fifth in a race in the Arabian Desert.The burly bloke from Alberton knows that with success comes the burden of expectation. Even if it was a contest of little consequence somewhere down Persian Gulf way, racing fans got a bit agitated.This was because the horse in question, one Mubtaahij, has been publicly flagged by De Kock as his principal hope for victory in the Dubai World Cup on March 26. After his smashing win in last year's UAE Derby and his exploits on the US Triple Crown trail, Mubtaahij has become a hero in Dubai - being dubbed "The Mighty One".And in South Africa people look up to De Kock as their battlefield champion and expect him to always slay giants in their name - which he comes quite close to doing, actually.The trainer was right to soothe the fevered brow, of course: the race distance was well short of Mubtaahij's optimum, he was coming off a 243-day rest and he was never going to be fully wound up with the world's richest race, a month-and-a-half away, being his target.On that colourful night, in the world's richest horse race, he'll need his fitness to be peaking and not over the top. Ranged alongside him will be serious American horseflesh called California Chrome and Frosted.The fans have plenty of MdK material to keep them excited this weekend. Interesting newbies in the yard trotted out last night, and there is a likely winner in Baroof at Meydan tomorrow and a place chance for Zahee in an Abu Dhabi feature on Sunday.However, the De Kock name does not appear in tomorrow's race card for Turffontein, where the Allez France Stakes, a 2200m non-black type contest for fillies and mares, tops the bill and commands our attention.Last year's winner of this very event, Vino Veritas, is the top weight and likely favourite. A game and consistent performer, the daughter of Silvano has been allotted a hefty 61.5kg to lug around the city course, which would seem to be just about the only factor standing between her and a facile repeat victory.Along with some lead weights to meet the scale requirement, tiny Muzi Yeni will be in the saddle for trainer Chesney van Zyl and I'd bet on those two canny young men coming up with a game-plan to have Vino Veritas flying at the finish.Of the opposition, Patchit Up Baby and Enchanted Silk provide the obvious main challenge.The quality falls away sharply among the rest, though younger runners Kissimmee, Paris Princess and Beautiful Flautist can all improve off feather-weights and should be slung into Trifectas and Quartets.In vino veritas; in wine, truth. I trust you haven't given up dop for Lent...