Dubai: Each year, the Group 1 Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates, attracts an elite set of horses to compete for a share of the $10million purse.
There will always be a megastar, like the legendary Cigar in the inaugural year in 1996, Dubai Millennium in 2000 and California Chrome, 12 months ago.
This year is no different.
A horse that is on the brink of joining the pantheon of greats is the overwhelming favourite to storm down Meydan’s dirt track, which was built from desert sand sourced in the Hatta region of Dubai, and win the 22nd running of the race.
He is a champion with tons of ability, the biggest strides in the business and ridiculously huge lungs. Sounds a lot like we talking about Usain Bolt, the legendary Olympian, but perhaps, he is the equine equivalent of the phenomenal Jamaican sprinter, who breezes past his rivals before easing down in the closing strides to win one gold after the other.
Bob Baffert |
He is trained by Hall of Fame winning handler, Bob Baffert, a two-time winner of the Dubai World Cup with Silver Charm in 1998 and Captain Steve in 2001. And goes by the self-important name of Arrogate.
According to the English Oxford dictionary, Arrogate means to take, or claim (something) without justification. It’s a 16th century word. But it has never been more relevant than it is now.
Connoisseurs of thoroughbred racehorses believe that Arrogate, officially the best dirt horse in the world, a winner of the $6million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and the $12million Pegasus Cup, just has to turn up at Meydan on Saturday evening, to be declared a winner, and the 10th American-trained beast to take home the gilded Dubai World Cup trophy for his owner, Prince Khalid Abdullah and his Juddmonte Stables operation.
Arrogate, a grey son of Unbridle’s Son, announced himself as a ‘special’ horse when he won the Travers Stakes by a sensational 12½ length in 1:59.36 seconds, breaking the 37-year-old Stakes and track record in August 2016.
The rest is well-documented.
Arrogate goes into Saturday’s showpiece race with the kind of resume that will floor the most indifferent recruiter. He is the 1-3 international favourite with fellow American hopeful, Gun Runner, a faraway 8-1 chance.
“He looks good,” said Baffert. “We’ve got to stay focused now. Until he gets in the gate and gets the job done in the race, I’m going to be a nervous wreck.
“This horse has been so good to me and hopefully we will know after the race just how great he is.”
"He’s been very consistent and we always thought that when he ran as a 3-year-old he would get better and better. It seems as he gets older he’s getting better.” |
Ron Winchell |
Baffert also saddles Hopportunity, who was third in this race last year.
“Both my horses are happy and healthy,” Baffert added. “It is very exciting to be here with two such good horses and it would be great if they could run first and second.
”Obviously, plenty of other trainers will be hoping that is not the case.
South African Mike de Kock, who saddles Mubtaahij, winner of the 2015 UAE Derby and who was second to California Chrome last year, will be one of them.
“We were pleased with his one run this year and he has come on a lot for that outing,” said De Kock.
“We were pretty happy until the draw; 14 is not good but it is what we have and we will need to deal with it.”
Christophe Soumillon, who takes the ride, added: “The good news is the horse has improved a lot from his comeback run and seems in very good form.
“The bad news is the draw, which is going to make it very difficult to get the position I would have liked. We will have to see how the race develops in the early stages and plan accordingly.”
Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Surour is seeking an eighth victory in the biggest race of the country of his birth and he takes his chances with Move Up, who prepped for the World Cup with a fourth-place effort on Super Saturday in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 over the same course and distance.
That was his dirt debut and first outing since winning at Ascot in October.
“He needed that run and is an improving horse,” said Bin Surour. “We all know Arrogate is very good but my horse has progressed since Super Saturday and should run well. We were last out of the draw but I was delighted with stall six.
“It’s great for a local person to win it. The best trainers in the world, the best owners, best jockeys, all come to Dubai for this meeting, and to win the World Cup is something very special for us,” he pointed out.
“Of course, the quality of the horses running in the World Cup is completely different. The best quality horses are coming here for the race, and Arrogate, naturally, is the one everybody sees as the one to beat.
“But our horse has a big heart, he always tries, and I think he will do well, given a clear run,” Bin Surour added.
Others in the field include Neolithic, Keen Ice, Special Fighter, Gold Dream, Long River, Apollo Kentucky, Awardee, Furia Cruzada and Lani.
