Dubai: Assistant trainer Neal McLaughlin is raring to go. In fact he is so eager to see Frosted take on California Chrome and his ten other rivals in Saturday’s 21st running of the Group 1 $10 million Dubai World Cup (G) that he wishes the race would take place sooner.
Ever since Kiaran McLaughlin, Neal’s brother realised that Frosted would be his 2016 Dubai World Cup horse following a courageous third-place effort behind Keen Ice in the Group 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga, New York, last August, the brothers have been counting down the days to the March 26 showpiece at Meydan.
And with just four days to go before the big showdown, Neal, who has been in Dubai with Frosted since January 27, was brimming with confidence as he talked about the grey son of Tapit’s chances.
“He’s really come into his own,” Neal said on Tuesday after watching the imposing four-year-old gallop effortlessly over 2400 metres at a sealed Marmoom race track.
“He’s a tactical horse who will do as we please. [But] we want him a bit closer to the pace on Saturday night and the freshening we’ve given him between races helps with that.
“We wish the World Cup was tonight. This is obviously a very strong Dubai World Cup but we wouldn’t trade horses with anyone.”
Having captivated fans when winning Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan in record-setting time, Frosted has become the talk of the town as he bids to add to Godolphin’s outstanding record of 10 wins in the Dubai World Cup.
“It helps that American Pharoah isn’t here,” said Neal, referring to the horse’s big defeat to the American Triple Crown winner in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last October. “We always say we had the right horse in the wrong year. We came over early [to Dubai] and gave him time to acclimate.
“The prep [a five-length win in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2] couldn’t have gone any better. With seven weeks since his last start, he’s fresh, happy and ready to run. We are full of confidence.”
But so is the wily Art Sherman, California Chrome’s 78-year-old trainer who boasted that his star is a lot stronger now.
“I think he’s five lengths better. You’re just going to see a different Chrome this time,” said Sherman referring to Chrome’s 2 3/4 defeat by African Story in the Dubai World Cup last year.
Frosted also clashes with Keen Ice, the bombshell winner of the Travers Stakes, Mubtaahij, the Group 2 UAE Derby winner, plus the Bob Baffert-trained Grade 1 winner Hopportunity and Mshawish, a six-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro and a Grade 1 winner on both dirt and turf.
Mshawish, who is trained by multiple Eclipse Award-winning handler Todd Pletcher, as always looked impressive when cruising about 2200m under exercise rider Nick Bush.
“He was pulling Nick around even more today than he was yesterday,” said assistant trainer Ginny DePasquale.
Hoppertunity, who represents dual Dubai World Cup winning handler Baffert [Silver Charm 1998, Captain Steve 2001), spent Tuesday morning relaxing in the Dubai World Cup quarantine complex.
Baffert’s assistant trainer Dana Barnes reported that the five-year-old son of Any Given Sunday had emerged from his final workout on Monday in outstanding condition.
“Everything is great. His legs were ice-cold this morning and he was as happy as can be,” Barnes said. “And we lucked out and missed the rain.”
Keen Ice, the only horse to beat American Pharoah when winning the 2015 Grade 1 Travers Stakes by ¾ lengths, galloped strong over 3200m under assistant trainer and exercise rider Tammy Fox.
“We started thinking Dubai World Cup last year and the plan was to run in the Donn (Handicap at Gulfstream, finished sixth beaten four lengths) and then get a race over Meydan before the Dubai World Cup” Fox said.
“I’ve been here with Keen Ice for six weeks. When it all falls into place it makes you look really good but we all know at the snap of a finger, something can go wrong. It’s very special to be invited and it’s a relief to get to the night with a horse who is ready to run big.”
The commanding American Dubai World Cup contingent have a combined winning total of 17 Group or Grade 1 stakes wins, seven of them Group or Grade 1’s.
California Chrome (7/4), Frosted (5/2), Mshawish (14), Hoppertunity (16), Mubtaahij (20), Special Fighter (20), Keen Ice (25), Vadamos (25), Hokko Tarumae (28), Gun Pit (40), Teletext (50), Candy Boy (66)
