Arrogate Wins Dubai World Cup
dubairacingclub.media: After missing the start and falling far behind, American champion Arrogate (USA) unleashed one of the most spectacular performances in the 22-year history of the Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline - and perhaps in all of racing worldwide - as he powered home to a two-and-a-quarter-length victory in front of a madly cheering crowd.
“It goes to show you how great this horse is. He did that with all class. He’s the best I’ve ever seen in my life,” said an emotional trainer Bob Baffert, who gave up all hope when Arrogate broke slowly from the starting gate.
“It goes to show you how great this horse is. He did that with all class. He’s the best I’ve ever seen in my life,” declared Baffert.
Baffert praised jockey Mike Smith for not becoming flustered after Arrogate missed the start. Smith, who waved a Saudi Arabian flag as he rode into the winner’s circle to be greeted by family members of owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, said Arrogate was distracted when an assistant starter left him in the starting gate after the jockey asked for Arrogate’s head to be held straight.
“I don’t know if the guy misunderstood me, but I said make sure you keep his head straight. And then he got out instead,” Smith said. “My horse just didn’t realise he had to break. But you know what? Things happen for a reason.
“He was slipping and sliding from the word go,” Smith added in describing the race. “Once I got to the outside and he straightened out, he levelled out and I made up five lengths so quick. I thought OK, we’re here. I just tried to be patient and not lose ground. It worked out great. He’s the greatest I’ve ever been on.
Once Arrogate found his footing on the track as he was racing wide, he had to run down another American challenger, Gun Runner (USA). Gun Runner had assumed the lead coming into the Meydan stretch after Long River (USA) set the early pace.
Gun Runner could not match strides with Arrogate, who blew past him effortlessly. The runner-up held a five-length advantage over third-placed Neolithic, another competitor from America.
“I had plenty of horse at the end,” Smith said. “Bob (Baffert) had a heart attack last time he was here (in Dubai in 2012) and I think I had one too. I had to hit my heart about three times to get it pumping after that start.”
Arrogate covered the 2000m in 2:02.15. The victory marked the third in the Dubai World Cup for Baffert and the first for Smith and Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms.