Bob Baffert said he is delighted with Arrogate’s condition at Meydan Racecourse on Monday after the favourite for the Dubai World Cup worked for the first time under the watchful eye of his trainer.

Arrogate completed a breeze of around 800 metres under work rider Dana Barnes with his dual World Cup-winning handler looking on, having flown in to the UAE on Sunday.

A few hours later Baffert also oversaw a similar workout by Hoppertunity, who placed third in last year’s World Cup.

When asked whether Arrogate had taken the long journey from California in his long, raking stride, Baffert said: “He’s handling everything really well. He looks good to me.”

Baffert added of Hoppertunity: “He has been training better than he ever has, he really loves it here.”

Arrogate was declared on Monday under regular partner Mike Smith, while Hoppertunity will once again have Flavien Prat as his guide. The pair spearhead a large American contingent that includes Gun Runner, Neolithic and Keen Ice.

Overall, 14 horses will compete for a cut of the US$10 million (Dh36.7m) in prize money on World Cup night on Saturday, and the UAE will be represented by Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 winner Long River, Move Up, Special Fighter and Furia Cruzada.

Mubtaahij, last year’s runner-up, will represent South African-trainer Mike de Kock in the line-up, as will four Japanese runners: Lani, Gold Dream, Apollo Kentucky and Awardee.
– TheNational.ae

Betting for the Dubai World Cup to be run over 2000m on Saturday [Mar 25] at Meydan:

1/3 Arrogate; 8/1 Mubtaahij; 10/1 Gun Runner, 14/1 Hoppertunity, 25/1 Neolithic, Special Fighter, Keen Ice, 33/1 upwards the others

Turffontein Inside track stages an eight race meeting on Tuesday and punters will need to tread wearily.

Saturday’s racing proved that this particular course can throw some upset results, although the form of the maiden events stood up well and should do so again.

Made To Conquer has been scratched from the third, a maiden over 1600m, where he looked the proverbial certainty, and this has played into the hands of the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Student Grant. The latter caught the eye running on over 1450m last time and has a good draw over a step up In trip he will enjoy.

It’s A True Story ran well over 1600m last time, but visually he did not make as much of an impression as Student Grant did. Furthermore, Student Grant has It’s A True Story held on paper on a formline through a horse called King Of Mani. On formlines Huhi could be a threat, but he has a wide draw to overcome. Student Grant is thus selected as the best bet on the card and as a Pick 6 banker as no other horses in the field make any appeal.

There should be some value to be had about Cat’s Whiskers in the second race, a MR 68 Handicap over 1200m for fillies and mares. She jumped from the worst draw of all, the number one draw, over 1400 on the Vaal Ouside track last time so did well to finish a 4,3 length fourth to the progressive My Friend Lee. She was thereabouts at the 400m mark before plugging on gamely, so is interesting from a good draw over a step down in trip. Little Swift has pace and the ability to stay on, so will be a big runner here too if able to overcome a tricky draw of seven. Gavin Lerena is up which is an obvious bonus.

The fifth race has a possible Pick 6 banker in Simply Royal, but as it is her first run out the maidens only the brave would go that route. She is beautifully bred being by Silvano out of the Dingaans winner Royal Fantasy (Al Mufti). She looks the part too and on debut, despite breaking through the stalls, she swept through the field from last to win going away by 3,5 lengths over the 1200m at this course.

The concerns are her inexperience and she also over raced on that debut when being reined back, which creates a question mark about the trip. However, once she had cover she relaxed very nicely and on pedigree she should relish the step up in trip.

The topweight Silver Class is interesting in this race as she has been far from disgraced running exclusively in features and plate races this season and she now runs in a handicap off a lowered merit rating. She is also well drawn over an ideal trip. Comme-Ci-Comme-Ca has caught the eye recently in a stronger class and is another one who is interesting back in a handicap over a suitable trip, although her wide draw makes it tough. Samarra’s recent form over this trip is good and the blinkers are off after she disappointed over 1000m last time, so she can’t be ignored from a good draw of two.

Eternal Spring impressed on debut and is worth another chance after her disappointing second start, although that was after a layoff. She does have a tough merit rating though compared to Simply Royal.

David Thiselton

There seemed more reason to think that the remarkable winning sequence of multiple Gr1 winner Winks (Street Cry) might come to an end at a saturated Rosehill Gardens on Saturday offering the heaviest racing conditions witnessed in Sydney for a very long day.

Winx (sahracing.com)

But if anything, the $1m, Gr1 ATC China Horse Club George Ryder (1500m) will be remembered for one of the champion racemare’s greatest ever performances.

Shooting for her 16th straight victory and second consecutive success in one of the outstanding events on the domestic racing calendar, the amazing Winx treated the Australian racing public to a galloping exhibition, careering away from her opposition to score by no less than seven and a quarter lengths.

In truth, not one of her rivals ever seemed to be traveling well enough at any stage of the race to provide the remarkable racemare with some resistance, and the event as a contest was as good as over by the top of the home straight.

Seemingly in complete control with her biggest rivals making heavy weather of the conditions, Winx travelled sweetly throughout and went on to score without her opponents landing a single blow.

Even trainer Chris Waller appeared surprised at the authority of her victory, admitting immediately afterwards.

“I didn’t expect her to win like that. She is just an amazing horse. It is amazing to have a horse that you’re associated with who is so well received,” he said.

Regular pilot Hugh Bowman was equally in awe of Winx after the win.

“It is just so special. I am really lost for words as she receives a round of applause here,” he said.

Winx, by Street Cry out of the Al Akar mare Vegas Showgirl, took her career earnings past the $10 million barrier after 26 mostly unforgettable starts for her owners Peter Tighe, Richard Treweeke and Debbie Kepitis. – Thoroughbrednews.com.au

South African Mike de Kock enters Saturday’s Dubai World Cup meeting with a select team of two headed by Mubtaahij (IRE), runner-up in last year’s $10million Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates.

He is joined on the card by the talented but thus far wayward Fawree (USA) , who will hope to emulate his illustrious stable companion by winning the Group 2 UAE Derby sponsored by The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group.

Runner-up on his racecourse debut, in a 1400m maiden on the Meydan dirt, at the end of last year, he missed the break on that occasion and did well to finish second.

Well away two weeks later, he was never headed in a 1600m maiden but, again, was not the best behaved at the stalls.

Disaster was to strike on Super Saturday when, as hot favourite of the Al Bastakiya, he broke out of the stalls at the same moment the field were set on their way, unseating Bernard Fayd’Herbe in the process.

“The stalls had always been an issue with him,” said De Kock. “We had done an awful lot of work with him ourselves, as well as involving the starter, Shane Ryan, and his team so it was a bit disappointing.

“We know he is a serious horse and we hope a genuine UAE Derby contender so we reached out to South Africa’s leading equine behavioural therapist, Malan du Toit.”

Unorthodox perhaps but the evidence is that the move has reaped dividends and, last Friday, Fawree passed his Stalls test with flying colours.

Du Toit explained: “He is a lovely horse and has been a pleasure to work with throughout. He was a bit insecure to begin with but improved on a daily basis to the extent that we can now load him without a hood and he is happy to stand in the stalls.

“Importantly, the handlers who will deal with him on Saturday were on hand and everything went perfectly.”

Fayd’Herbe, who has been involved throughout and ridden the horse in both completed starts as well as on Super Saturday, will again be in the saddle.

De Kock added: “Bernard has done an awful lot of hard work with the horse and Christophe Soumillon certainly understands the situation so is more than happy.”

However, Soumillon will be aboard Mubtaahij, without a win since that 2015 UAE Derby success but who has consistently performed well in top company.

This will be just his second start of the season, having finished second in a handicap over the same 2000m dirt course and distance as Saturday’s race.

“Saturday has been his target since he was second last year,” said De Kock. “Ideally we would have had two runs, as we did last year, but we ran out of time a bit so ran him a month ago instead of Super Saturday.

“We were pleased enough with him not to run him again and he is in great shape ahead of what looks another strong renewal. Arrogate (USA) is clearly world class and going to be tough to beat but at least we are proven under these conditions.”

Mikedekockracing.com

Sun Met hero Whisky Baron jets out to Mauritius this morning. He will race in England later in the year but his principal target is the richest race in Hong Kong in December.

The four-year-old will complete his initial three-month quarantine in the second half of June and he then has to do a further month in Britain before he is allowed to race or go overseas.

Whisky Baron (Liesl King)

Brett Crawford said: “It’s a long road to travel and so much has to go right. But, if it does, the plan is to prep him in England for the 2 000m race in Hong Kong.”

The Longines Hong Kong Cup on December 10 carries a total stake of HK$ 25 million, or R41 million, making it the richest race in the territory.

Ridgemont manager Craig Carey said: “It’s an invitation race and what happens is that you first enter your horse for it and then, if they are satisfied, you receive an invitation to run.”

Carey added: “Dubai next year is up in the air but he could well run there too if he is well, the races are suitable and Brett is happy with him.”

The Australian-bred Whisky Baron, owned by Craig and Ross Kieswetter and named after their father Wayne, is unbeaten in five starts since being gelded in the middle of last year.

By Michael Clower