Mubtaahij beaten by the best

“Those were some bloody good horses ahead of him,” commented Mike de Kock after his first Kentucky Derby runner, Mubtaahij, was beaten 9.25 lengths into eighth place by 5-2 favourite American Pharoah, who scored a stunning victory over Firing Line and Dortmund.

Mubtaahij had the run of the rail for most of the race – he suffered some kickback from the runners ahead of him, but appeared to have every chance as the field got to the home bend.

However, as racing fans have seen a number of times in the Dubai features, the US-bred sand specialists gallop on like there’s no tomorrow! Relentless is not the word and indeed the first three past the post were the same three that held the lead between them almost throughout this 141st renewal of the “Run For The Roses”.

American Pharoah, Firing Line and Dortmund were at each other early, they were the front three in the back stretch and the first three into the home run. Mubtaahij kicked at the top of the straight and got a little closer, but he was never going to get within striking distance and over the last 100m became a little one-paced.

Mubtaahij wasn’t near disgraced in a line-up of top quality classic horses in America’s greatest race for three-year-olds. He made his connections and fans proud and has written a piece of South African racing history.

This was Mike de Kock’s first Derby runner and it’s unlikely to have been his last.

Early feedback from Kentucky is that Mubtaahij will be shipped to the UK and De Kock said his preparation over the next months will be focused on the 2016 World Cup. Chances are his form from the Kentucky Derby will stand up well anywhere else in the world. –