The 21st running of the world’s richest race at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday night didn’t yield a winner for trainer Mike de Kock, but the South African’s runners banked $2.42 million for their efforts on the night – some R37 million in our money or the equivalent of winning the Vodacom Durban July more than a dozen times.
Irish-bred Mubtaahij made the night for the De Kock yard by finishing second in the $10-million Dubai World Cup.
Mubtaahij
He was no match for star-of-the-show California Chrome, who left him for dead over the final 200m after he had looked a threat as the runners straightened, but the De Kock charge kept going to land a $2-million payday by a neck from faster-finishing Hoppertunity.
The performance put to bed any fears that an arduous trip to the USA last year to contest two legs of that country’s famed Triple Crown might have blunted his ability permanently. It also underlined that Mubtaahij should be able to pick up one or two decent prizes in the USA during the course of this year, provided of course he sidesteps California Chrome.
De Kock is well aware of that and quipped afterwards: “If California Chrome heads for the West Coast, I’ll be heading for the East Coast.”
California Chrome’s 3.75-length triumph in course-record time in spite of a slipped saddle was awesome to behold and restored the gloss to his status after his shock defeat by then eight-year-old Prince Bishop in last year’s race.
That defeat only made trainer Art Sherman more determined to fulfil his goal of winning the richest race on the planet and this year he brought California Chrome to the desert some two months before the big night.
Trainer Art Sherman
That enabled Sherman to give his charge a preparatory race in Dubai and ensure he was totally familiar with the battlefield conditions. It paid off in a big way and Sherman was quick to give full credit to his Dubai team, headed by his son Alan, for producing the 2014 USA Horse of the Year in mint condition on Saturday night.
He also heaped praise on jockey Victor Espinoza, who kept his cool after his mount’s saddle began to slip back shortly after the start. “I rode for 23 years and know you really have to be good to keep control when the saddle slips,” said Sherman.
Espinoza, who had California Chrome four wide and out of the kickback as he likes from the jump, focused on minimal body movement and precise balance to combat the slipping saddle and made it look easy.
California Chrome was disputing the lead with Mshawish, Special Fighter and Mubtaahij on his inside as the runners drove into the straight and most spectators didn’t even realise that Espinoza was balancing precariously as the USA’s most popular horse sped clear in the closing stages.
California Chrome heads home on Thursday and the $1-million Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August and the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita a couple of months later will probably be the final races of his star-studded career.
Ertijaal – on way to Hong Kong?
The five-year-old cost just $10,000 to breed and has now earned some $12.5 million with a stud career to come.
De Kock’s other big performer on the night was last season’s Investec Cape Derby winner Ertijaal, who finished only 2.60 lengths behind Japanese hero Real Steel in fourth place in the $6-million Dubai Turf.
It was a grand run in the strongest company he had faced to date and South African Doug Whyte, who deputised for injured Dane O’Neill, reckoned he would have been closer but for a wide draw.
De Kock would like to send Ertijaal to Hong Kong for the QE II Cup but still has to persuade owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum to his way of thinking.
Trainer Roger Varian’s charge Postponed gave a five-star display to win the $6-million Dubai Sheema Classic over 2400m and should be a major contender for the big middle-distance races in England this year.
And don’t be surprised to see French-based stayer Vazirabad, who posted his sixth success in just eight career starts under a cool ride from Christophe Soumillon, develop into a contender for the 2400m Arc de Triomphe later this year.
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