Dubai: Two years ago Mukhadram almost pulled off one of the biggest coups in Dubai World Cup (G1) history when came close to landing the world’s richest race on a surface that was alien to him.
Despite having only been exposed to the plush turf tracks at Newmarket, Ascot and York, the seven-year-old son of Shamardal produced the effort of a lifetime on the then all-weather track at Meydan, to finish a gallant runner-up behind Godolphin’s African Story.
Now, the UK-trained Intilaaq, who has a similar background in racing, will make an audacious attempt to upstage some of the best dirt horses in the world when he takes to the testing dirt, a surface which is not known to be a particular favourite with European horses.
However, his owner, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, who has never turned down a challenge, believes that his upcoming star can be a force to reckon with come March 26 when the battle for a purse of $10 million (Dh36.73 million) plays out at Dubai’s iconic racetrack.
“He’s a good horse and I think that if he handles the surface, which we will never know until the day, he can go close, if not win,” Shaikh Hamdan said during Super Saturday, the dress rehearsal of the $30 million Dubai World Cup meeting.
“Intilaaq is essentially a turf horse, a surface on which he has won three of his five starts including the big Group 3 at Haydock last August [Rose of Lancaster Stakes]. But we believe he can adapt, and if he does, we expect a good run from him.”
A four-year-old son of Dynaformer, who sired Kentucky Derby hero Barbaro, Intilaaq is trained by Roger Varian at Newmarket’s historic Kremlin House Stables, once the domain of the legendary Michael Jarvis.
Earlier this year, Varian tested the water when he sent him Southwell’s artificial surface to see how he copes with the kickback that he will have to endure at Meydan in the big race.
Elaborating on the prep, Varian told Racing UK: “It was really easy exercise for the horse, it wasn’t a hard gallop by any stretch of the imagination.
“We were just keen to bring him here, have a canter round and get him in behind one other and face a bit of kickback. I don’t know how similar the surface is in terms of firmness, but it’s the only place we can come and get any experience of kickback.
“On polytrack you wouldn’t achieve the same. If the World Cup is on the agenda it’s likely we’ll come back once or twice more and give him a bit more of a serious workout.”
Winner of his sophomore debut by eight lengths at Newbury last April, Intilaaq was a well-beaten 15th of 18 behind Gleneagles in the Group 1 English 2000 Guineas last summer, but bounced back to defeat Group 1 St James’s Palace third Consort in the Listed Steventon Stakes at Newbury in July.
Sent off as the odds-on favoritie in the Group 3 Rose of Lancaster, he did not disappoint and comfortably had the beating of his elders, winning the 10 furlong contest by five lengths.
“He’s an improving horse, he finished off last season well,” Varian said. “He’s just a Listed/Group 3 winner, but he finished up 117-rated and we think he can bridge the gap to Group 1 company this year.”
Among the rivals he will face on March 26 are 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome and Wood Memorial (G1) and Pennsylvania Derby (G2) victor Frosted.