Little Mike can rise to the occasion in Dubai Duty Free

Newmarket, England: Eight years ago, Dale Romans saddled Roses in May to win the Dubai World Cup (G1), with fellow Americans Dynever and Choctaw Nation filling second a third.

That was quite a typical World Cup outcome in those days, when the race was run over a conventional dirt track, the surface most American horsemen still prefer.

Horseracing has changed somewhat though, also on the other side of the Atlantic, and more and more top class horses have become adaptable to synthetic tracks these days. Romans has two such performers, and he has shipped them both to Meydan.

Dullahan will run in the World Cup while Little Mike will go for the Dubai Duty Free (G1) over 1,800 metres on turf.

Less than half a year ago, the option seemed unlikely for Little Mike, whose front-running style had made him such an efficient athlete over distances up to 2,000 metres, or a mile and a quarter if you like.

Then came the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Series, and his big run at that meeting changed everybody’s view on Little Mike. The way he has improved through his career, and risen to the occasion again and again, one might be tempted to call him Little ‘Big’ Mike. All too often, rivals have underestimated him, normally they have regretted it.

This six-year-old gelded son of Spanish Steps is seriously dangerous if allowed to stroll along on an uncontested lead. Like when he won the prestigious Arlington Million (G1) over one-and-a-quarter miles in Chicago last August.

Ramon Dominguez sent Little Mike straight to the front. Where he managed to slow things down, and have plenty in reserve when entering the home stretch. At that stage, it was already clear that he would not be for catching. Little Mike ran on well to the wire, and took the race by one-and-a-half lengths from the English trained challenger Afsare, who stayed on well but had far too much to do.

Little Mike had run a similar race to take the Turf Classic (G1) over nine furlongs (1,800 metres) at Churchill Downs in May, winning easily from Slim Shadey. After his win in Chicago Little Mike was well established in the elite. And members of the elite must go to the Breeders’ Cup. Dale Romans never ducks a challenge, so that Little Mike would be at Santa Anita Park on November 3 was a given thing.

Of course he would be there. Though, to contest which race? The Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), where he would drop down in trip and face Wise Dan, or the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), where he would be stepping up in distance and meet the defending champion St Nicholas Abbey as well as New York win machine Point of Entry?

It was a tough call, and he took his time about it, but in the end Romans made the right decision, as he declared Little Mike for the Turf. Dominguez was again on board and the combination was expected to sprint straight to the lead as the gates opened.

Dominguez, one of the very best jockeys in the US, had a different plan. This time he did not gun for an early lead. Instead, he settled Little Mike in third spot early, and the gelding was racing nicely relaxed in that position.

He made his move with just under a quarter of a mile to go, and kicked into a clear lead. Favourite Point of Entry finished faster, but he came from too far back and Little Mike held on to win by half a length.

The versatility he showed at Santa Anita, when proving that he was able to rate just off the pace, made Little Mike an even better horse, and he is certainly good enough to make an impact when he runs on March 30.

— The writer is the Publishing Editor of Newmarket-based Globeform