Connections of Arrogate, the highest-rated Flat performer in the world, have confirmed his next target is the Dubai World Cup at Meydan on March 25.

The Bob Baffert-trained four-year-old won the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November and kicked off 2017 with a comfortable four-and-three-quarter-length victory in the inaugural Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park last month.

Following Arrogate’s victory in the US$12million contest, Baffert expressed some doubts about Arrogate travelling to Dubai but after pleasing in a mile workout at Santa Anita on Monday, connections confirmed Meydan is now the target.

Baffert said: “I just got the call and we’ve got the green light to send him to Dubai as long as he’s doing well. [The decision] came down from [owner] Prince Khalid [Abdullah].

“He looked great. I’m really happy the way he’s come out of that race [the Pegasus].

“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,” Baffert told www.bloodhorse.com

Meanwhile, Racingpost.com report that the Dubai World Cup meeting has lost one of its potential stars following a surprising change of heart by connections of Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther.

Last weekend the five-year-old won the very valuable Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin and it seemed a trip to Meydan for next month’s Dubai Turf was the next target.

However, it emerged on Tuesday that Werther, who was around 8-1 for the race with British bookmakers, would not be going to Dubai.

The South China Morning Post reported that trainer John Moore was informed of the change of plans via a text from owner Johnson Chen. Moore was dismayed at the news, not just for himself, but also for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, whose officials the SCMP reported had suffered a ‘loss of face’.

Hong Kong’s presence at this year’s meeting will be reduced further as sprinters Lucky Bubbles and Peniaphobia will also not be making the trip, with domestic campaigns preferred.

William Longsword is the toast of the Western Cape sophomore colts after victory in the Gr1 CTS Cape Guineas and the CTS 1600 while the Highveld brigade should be sorted into some sort of pecking order come Saturday with the running of the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas. As far as KZN goes, it is likely to stay up in the air for at least another month or so without any specific features for three-year-old males and no trainers seemingly willing to raid.

Gr2 Dingaans winner Singapore Sling is a notable absentee from the Gauteng Guineas field but he, and both Janoobi and Heavenly Blue, were soundly beaten by William Longsword when raiding the Cape.

Roman Emperor (Candiese Marnewick)

It would be disappointing if Vaughan Marshall’s star does not make the trip to KZN for Champions Season as there is speculation that he may be retired to stud as an early replacement for his aging sire Captain Al although he only has a merit rating of 109, six pounds shy of top rated three-year-old Gold Standard rated 115.

Be that as it may, Mr O’Neill and Roman Emperor are way down the pecking order if their ratings are to be believed but could still be contenders come the winter features but they will need enforce that view when they run in the itsarush.co.za Middle Stakes at Scottsville today – Middle Stakes races being restricted to horses with a nett MR of 80 and below.

Mr O’Neill is much improved since being gelded and sent over ground by Dean Kannemeyer and he was far from disgraced when runner-up, beaten less than a length, by the progressive Heir Line giving the winner 3.5kg, this after winning two on the bounce.

The step up to 1950m should hold no fears and he will start as one of the fancied runners.

Duncan Howells saddles the lightly raced Roman Emperor who was just over a length back to Heir Line and Mr O’Neill when they met in early February but looks capable of a lot better. He did not handle the soft ground well and hung badly when under pressure. The going today should be perfect and although he is 2kg worse off with Mr O’Neill he strikes as a horse with plenty of scope and should be a threat.

Unbelievable Chad (Nkosi Hlophe)

Silver Rose is a lightly raced four-year-old who has been in good form on the Greyville poly. He stays the trip well and if he handles the switch to turf he too should be right there.

Of the balance, Captain At Sea was hammered with a hefty rating after his maiden win and on a line through Silver Rose and Lucky Luciano, looks well held – the switch to turf possibly the only point in his favour.

Air Chief Marshal carries top weight in the All To Come Handicap where he can take advantage of a drop in class. He jumped a division when fourth, beaten four lengths by Caribbean Day over the course and distance, but prior to that was a fluent winner on the Greyville turf. He has the worst of the draw but it is only a ten-horse field so should not be too disadvantaged.

Unbelievable Chad has been disappointing and is definitely better than his record of a single victory would suggest. Paul Lafferty’s charge does appear to have a few behavioural issues but was a close-up second on the poly last time out and can finally go one better.

Also in with a chance is Baltic Amber. He was caught for pace over the Greyville 1400m last time out and Duncan Howells will be more confident of his chances over the course and distance where he recorded his last win.

With bright sunshine over the past two days, Scottsville should be in prime condition after the recent rains.

By Andrew Harrison

Grant van Niekerk has been appointed first jockey to the powerful Plattner Racing team handled by Andre Nel.

Nel said on Tuesday: “Grant is a natural choice. He is very talented, he can ride all the weights and he has already done well for us. We will have first claim on him.”

Nel has 30 horses to race in Cape Town during the coming winter season and, in addition, he is sending ten of his best ones to join his Durban string. Van Niekerk will fly up to partner those that run in Group races. The stable also has 26 two-year-olds.

Van Niekerk said: “I am very happy to get the job. Andre is a gentleman to ride for and he has some good horses. I went up there to work this morning and I rode a couple of nice ones. I think we will do well together.”

Van Niekerk, 25, replaces his great friend Aldo Domeyer who took over his job as first jockey to Candice Bass-Robinson. He has been sidelined since Met day by accumulated suspensions but says he will be back in action on March 11.

Michael Clower

At least nine horses sold so far at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Australia could be coming to race in South Africa, having been sold to South African interests.

The two bought early at the sale by Markus Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators are likely to remain in Australia, having been co-signed by Victoria-based Heywood Bloodstock.

They spent Aus$280,000 on a Camelot colt and another $260,000 on a Fastnet Rock filly.

Jehan Malherbe’s Form bloodstock has secured seven horses already at the sale, which has been running since Sunday.

His most expensive purchase was a Smart Missile filly secured for $180,000. He bought a Shamus Award filly, who is related to Alboran Sea, for $90,000, a Fiorente filly for $70,000, a Choisir colt for $60,000 and a filly by Black Caviar’s four-time winning half-brother All Too Hard filly for $30,000.

Paul Guy’s Heritage Bloodstock has bought two fillies, paying $210,000 for a daughter of Snitzel and R100,000 for a filly by Camelot.

Andy Williams, manager of World Wide Bloodstock, has spent $175,000 on two yearlings, a Sebring colt ($120,000) and a Declaration Of War filly.

The sale ends on Wednesday [Mar 1].

– TABNews; Picture: Racing.com

It’s business as usual for Dean Kannemeyer’s Milnerton string after battling a low-grade virus that put the yard out of commission for nearly a month.

Dean Kannemeyer (Nkosi Hlophe)

In early February Kannemeyer shut down his Milnerton operation after discovering that many of his horses were infected with a low-grade virus. Yesterday, Kannemeyer said that things had returned to normal with his horses jumping out of their skin and training in full swing.

Kannemeyer said that in hindsight, quick and assertive action had been the saving grace.

“It has been a trying time for our team. A racing yard not racing and spending hours with slow long canters and medicating and tending ill horses is not the happiest place to be – but things have turned for the better and the spirit and vibe is back.”

He said that he had stepped up the training routine and expected to send out his first runners in Cape Town in the next ten days.

Kannemeyer added that given the firmness of the going in the Cape that the break may have come as a blessing in disguise.

“As we always do in the first two weeks of March, preparations will soon be under way for the movement of our SA Champions Season contenders to KZN for the winter feature season there.”

By Andrew Harrison