HORSE RACING
De Kock’s World Cup target gets tougher
Mubtaahij has a mountain to climb as the $10m Dubai World Cup welcomes US superstar Arrogate
Trainer Mike de Kock’s chances of winning his first Dubai World Cup have taken a nosedive with the news that US superstar Arrogate will make the journey from his California base for the $10m race on March 25. Hall-Of-Fame trainer Bob Baffert said the Dubai race would be the four-year-old’s next target after a pleasing workout in Santa Anita. This breaking news will not be well received by De Kock who now knows his star performer Mubtaahij has a mountain to climb if he is to secure top honours at Meydan. Mubtaahij ran a great race to finish second in 2016’s Gold Cup and the legendary South African trainer was happy with his horse’s recent second place in the Curlin Handicap. However, Arrogate, winner of the $12m Pegasus Cup in January, in which he defeated the highly rated California Chome, is considered to be the best horse on the planet at present. Bookmaker reaction to Baffert’s decision was to install Arrogate as the 1-3 favourite for the World Cup with Mubtaahij quoted at 7-1 an...
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