Mike elated over first Derby
SOUMILLON SAID WE MUST TAKE OUR CHANCES, SO HERE WE ARE, ENTHUSES DE KOCK
Loosely translated from Arabic, Mubtaahij means elated. The colt lived up to his name by leaving his opposition stone cold in the UAE Derby on the richest night in world horseracing at Meydan last month and now he’ll be looking to keep his connections elated with a strong performance in the Kentucky Derby this weekend.
The manner of his victory in Dubai meant that Mubtaahij earned a ticket to the famed Churchill Downs and a shot at the run for the roses on the first weekend in May.
He’s also provided South African trainer Mike de Kock with his first ever runner in the event.
“I don’t think there’s a word big enough for me. To say that it’s huge or massive is still downplaying it,” De Kock said from Kentucky this week.
But the colt, sired by Dubawi and owned by Sheik Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum, will have his work cut out for him given the quality of the field for this year’s renewal of the race first run in 1875.
“I probably found the worst year ever to try and attempt a run in the Kentucky Derby. The way he won in Dubai, he did it in a manner that gave one confidence that you could put him on a plane and hopefully he’ll be competitive,” said De Kock.
Having been bred in Europe meant that Mubtaahij was always going to be considered a turf horse but a last-minute change of plans after two belowpar runs at Newmarket in England saw him shipped to Dubai.
“A lot of luck involved and maybe some lucky decisions, but that’s the game I guess. If you’ve got no luck you’ve got nothing,” said the horse’s conditioner, recounting how Mubtaahij ended up running on the dirt.
The route to America has had its own set of challenges, not least the fact that the feed Mubtaahij is used to had to be switched given that it didn’t have an FDA seal of approval. So far it hasn’t seemed to faze the horse too much though.
“He’s got a very good appetite. He’s a bit like myself and keeps his head in the manger and he’s done well with it (the new food),” said De Kock of the switch.
To understand the significance, try and picture an athlete like Usain Bolt or David Rudisha changing their diet in the week building up to an Olympic final. It’s a major adjustment.
But De Kock is happy to take his chances especially with the confidence given to him by jockey Christophe Soumillon.
“The initial entry was probably just a pipe dream really. But I don’t think that it really sank in until he won the Derby very well in Dubai. Had he just won it, or by a length or two, I certainly wouldn’t be sitting here.
“He was geared down to win, which was quite impressive and Christophe Soumillon – who is a good judge – got off and said we must take our chances. The horse must have given him some sort of feel.
“At the end of the day it’s a sport and unless players take each other on you’ll never know who has got the goods,” mused De Kock.