DUBAI // Arrogate’s task of winning the Dubai World Cup became appreciably easier on Wednesday when the American raider was placed in Gate 9 for the US$10 million (Dh3.67m) event.
Bob Baffert’s roan colt will benefit from pace across the 14 runners when he breaks from inside fellow US challengers Keen Ice and Neolithic.
Long River, Salem bin Ghadayer’s runner who could not be caught from the front in the Al Maktoum Challenge three weeks ago, will emerge from Gate 2, while Gun Runner, one of five American challengers, has been given a favourable draw in Gate 5.
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The draw will give Arrogate’s jockey Mike Smith several options and Baffert hopes he will sit just off the coat-tails of what is sure to be a solid pace.
“If Arrogate turns for home and is within striking range then once that long stride gets going that is his best weapon,” Baffert said. “A mile-and-a-quarter is nothing for him.”
Baffert has won the Dubai World Cup twice with Silver Charm and Captain Steve but his best horse so far has been the mighty American Pharoah, who cut a swathe through American racing in 2015 with a Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup win.
Any trainer is fortunate enough to handle one horse of a lifetime, but Baffert appears to have two.
Arrogate only made his debut 11 months ago but has already won the Travers Stakes for three year olds, the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the inaugural $12m Pegasus World Cup last month.
Much like American Pharoah, Baffert believes that Arrogate has the ability to win races even when he is not at his best. To say he is confident would be an understatement.
“They are the two best horses I have trained,” Baffert said. “They are superior animals. When they bring their A Game, nothing can get near them.
“American Pharoah brought his B Game to the Kentucky Derby and still won.
“The really superior horses find a way to win. I am lucky to have Arrogate and hopefully he runs his race.”
Aside from Long River, the other horse trained in the UAE who received a beneficial draw was Godolphin’s Move Up in Gate 6.
Saeed bin Suroor seeks a record eighth success in the World Cup and all is now in place for a big run.
“He’s getting better all the time and it looks a good gate,” the Emirati said of Move Up. “The horse is doing really well.
“I’m very happy. It’s the best draw. I was left with six but if I could have chosen I’d have gone between five and eight anyway.”
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