Mike Smith believes that Arrogate will take the trip to Dubai in his long raking stride, after Bob Baffert revealed that the world’s best racehorse was confirmed for next month’s Dubai World Cup.
Arrogate, who has not raced since his imperious victory in the Pegasus World Cup on January 28, will make his first foray out of America to take part in Meydan’s $10 million (Dh36.73m) event on March 25, and reportedly could even leave Baffert’s base in California as early as March 13.
Smith is looking forward to his first ride on the Meydan dirt, having not ridden at the UAE’s principal track since he partnered the recently deceased Royal Delta to a disappointing 12th behind Animal Kingdom in 2013 on the Tapeta surface.
Although Smith has no direct experience of the Meydan dirt surface, which is almost three seasons old, he claims to have watched almost every World Cup Carnival fixture this campaign.
"He can handle the travel," Smith told The National by telephone of his Breeders' Cup-winning partner. "For the Travers Stakes he went from Santa Anita to Saratoga, where the dirt is heavier than at home, and it didn't bother him.
“And it certainly didn’t bother him at Gulfstream for the Pegasus. He does not need to take his track with him.”
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Arrogate has up to 14lbs in hand of Hoppertunity, his stable mate, who is also set to travel to Dubai in an effort to improve upon last year’s third place finish. According to English ratings service Timeform, Arrogate is 16lbs ahead of Mubtaahij, the leading challenger already based in the UAE and trained by Mike De Kock, and 17lbs clear of Special Fighter, last season’s fourth who was declared on Tuesday for the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round Three at Meydan on Saturday.
Although Arrogate is widely considered the overwhelming favourite for the $10m World Cup, Smith was quick to remind everybody that anything can happen in a horse race.
“Sometimes the horses you race against are not as talented as the one you are on but there are a thousand and one ways to get beaten on a racehorse,” Smith said.
“We’re just hoping it goes well and if he brings his A-Game he will be very hard to beat.”
Arrogate had just worked at Santa Anita Racecourse in California on Monday and, following a call with a representative of owners Juddmonte, Baffert confirmed that his stable star was set to travel.
Arrogate galloped a mile at Santa Anita Park on Monday under Martin Garcia, and covered the 1,600 metres in one minute, 38.24 seconds.
Baffert is hoping to secure his third World Cup victory after Silver Charm in 1998 and Captain Steve three years later.
“I just got the call and we’ve got the green light to send him to Dubai as long as he’s doing well,” Baffert said.
“He hasn’t regressed or anything, he looked fantastic. He’s enjoying himself, and he did it the right way. I’m really happy with the way he’s going. He’s just holding his form very well.”
Special Fighter will become Maria Ritchie’s first runner at the highest level when he makes his seasonal debut in the showpiece event to Meydan’s $1.8m Super Saturday card.
Ritchie was granted a licence this week in the absence of Musabbeh Al Mheiri, who was banned for 12 months for cobalt use.
As yet, no female trainer has won the 2000-metre contest since it was first run in 1994 and standing in her way will be seven others, including last season’s UAE Derby winner Lani and Erwan Charpy’s gutsy mare Furia Cruzada, who won the second round this month.
Furiz Cruzada edged out Doug Watson’s Second Summer by a nose last time and that horse will renew the rivalry in an attempt to hand Watson his first success in the $US400,000 contest.
There will be also two Dubai World Cup night winners on show, on the seven-race card.
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s Postponed, the highest-rated runner on the night, will make a bid under Andrea Atzeni to become the first horse to win successive Dubai City Of Golds.
Postponed faces a stern challenge from Godolphin, with Saeed bin Suroor ready to saddle Prize Money, Memorial Day and Famous Kid, and colleague Charlie Appleby ready to roll the dice again with Emotionless.
Ritchie will also saddle Muarrab, last season’s Dubai Golden Shaheen winner who is yet to win in three starts this season and is out to emulate the remarkable Conroy, who in 2003 won the second of his three Mahaab Al Shimaals.
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