Dubai Carnival beads: Mubtaahij’s mission, Romance of Godolphin

Between Monday’s welcome news about Arrogate’s Dubai World Cup (G1) venture, and looking forward to the upcoming Super Saturday card at Meydan, our weekly wrap of the Carnival action is easily overshadowed. But the final Carnival Thursday program on February 23 did have World Cup night implications.

Front and center was the reappearance of Mubtaahij in the Curlin H., rebranded and enhanced to listed stakes status this season. When the entries were announced, I thought he might just get away with it on class alone, despite the 132-pound impost and his pattern of improving with races under his belt.

But when trainer Mike de Kock took to his website to forewarn anyone who’d listen, it was clear that my initial take was overly optimistic and needed revision. Not only did the ever-frank de Kock say that Mubtaahij was badly in need of the race. He further revealed why the 2015 UAE Derby (G2) hero and 2016 World Cup runner-up had gotten behind on the timetable: “he wasn’t moving too well on his return” to Dubai, so he was given the extra time to come right again. Short of saying “don’t bet him to win,” de Kock was preparing fans and bettors alike for a less-than-stellar comeback in his World Cup prep. And if Mubtaahij didn't run well enough to benefit from it, he'd have to wheel back on Super Saturday.

Then the question became which of his race-fit, in-form rivals would take advantage. Could Saeed bin Suroor’s last-out handicap scorer Alabaster actually win two in a row? Probably not. So Doug Watson’s brigade figured to be the way to go, but which one of the trio? It turned out to be Etijaah, most recently a dead-heat second to Alabaster, who picked the right day to shine under a smart ride by Sam Hitchcott.

 

A homebred racing for Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell operation, Etijaah has been a long-term UAE resident since 2013. The now seven-year-old son of Daaher has taken years to work his way up the handicap ladder, finally cracking the 100-rating mark with a November 3 victory at this track and trip. Up in class to listed company for the December 15 Entisar S., Etijaah was only fifth. So it was back to the handicap ranks, until the Curlin presented him with an opportunity.

“He is just so genuine and is happy to face the kickback,” Hitchcott said, “which makes my job so much easier as I was able to follow Mubtaahij, knowing he would give me a tow into the race.

“I was then able to pull inside and pass him when I wanted after which, with our low weight (117 pounds), I was never worried. Basically, everything fell into place tonight and it is great for the horse and everyone involved.

“He’s been a lucky little horse for me from day one…Mubtaahij got tired and we were on top of our game.”

Hitchcott pretty much summed it up. After this career high, Etijaah’s rating is now 107, still well below what’s required for the World Cup.

Mubtaahij, on the other hand, can advance to the World Cup on the back of a pleasing effort. Indeed, the son of Dubawi ran about as well as he could have in his circumstances. Conceding Etijaah 15 pounds, he traveled well, and loomed to threaten in the stretch, until he understandably ran out of steam around the 10th furlong. In defeat, he nonetheless achieved his mission in the Curlin.

Mike De Kock "doing cartwheels" after the run of Mubtaahij. "I didn't want to run him next week and now I don't have to."

— Laura King (@LauraKingDXB) February 23, 2017

“This was a big run as he was well behind in fitness,” de Kock said on his website. “I didn’t want to run him again before the Dubai World Cup as I don’t want him visit that (sand) track more than he has to. Now there won’t be a need for another prep run.”

And on the day after: “Mubtaahij pulled up fine this morning, we are happy with him,” the horseman added. “We should have him at his best come World Cup night.”

Mike also said "let's hope they don't run Arrogate." #DWCC17 #Mubtaahij

— Laura King (@LauraKingDXB) February 23, 2017

The one wish de Kock didn’t get, however, was for Arrogate to stay away. Mubtaahij’s hopes of going one better come March 25 were dealt a massive blow.

Romancing the Cup: Godolphin mare Beautiful Romance emerged as a player for the Dubai Gold Cup (G2) on World Cup night when upsetting the Aga Khan’s Vazirabad in the Nad al Sheba Trophy (G3).

Vazirabad, the reigning Dubai Gold Cup winner, is entitled to gain revenge over an extra quarter-mile next time in his title defense. After all, the Alain de Royer-Dupre trainee was resuming at an about 1 3/4-mile trip that’s a bit shorter than his ideal. And jockey Christophe Soumillon rode him as the best horse in the race, with the bigger picture in mind. Anchored at the rear and not interested in giving him a hard race, Soumillon thought about peeling out to improve position, but covered him up again.

Meanwhile, Oisin Murphy chose the right instant to move aboard Beautiful Romance, just as the field rounded the final turn. The Saeed bin Suroor mare got the jump on Vazirabad, who followed her, but couldn’t quite peg her back.

As Vazirabad was beginning to inch closer in deep stretch, Beautiful Romance drifted across his path, forcing him to steady and switch to her inside. The interference definitely affected the 1 1/2-length margin; Vazirabad was already nearing her flank when it happened, and he couldn’t regain lost momentum. At the same time, Beautiful Romance was staying on resolutely, and it’s doubtful that Vazirabad could have passed her. The stewards accordingly allowed the result to stand, but reprimanded Murphy for the incident.