Mubtaahij to Aim for Belmont Stakes

U.A.E. Derby (UAE-II) winner Mubtaahij, who was eighth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) in his U.S. debut, will remain in the United States to aim for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 6, trainer Mike de Kock confirmed May 4.

 

Immediately after the Kentucky Derby, initial plans called for the son of Dubawi to be sent to Newmarket to be turned out for several weeks before resuming training that focused on the 2016 Emirates Dubai World Cup (UAE-I). After time to mull over the colt's May 2 performance in Louisville, Ky., the decision was made to go on to the 1 1/2-mile Belmont, de Kock said on his website.

 

Ridden by French champion Christophe Soumillon, Mubtaahij failed to threaten in the Derby after racing in 12th early and then advancing to sixth entering the stretch, but he was one-paced thereafter and finished 9 1/2 lengths behind American Pharoah.

 

"It was a good performance," Soumillon said following the race. "We didn't finish too far back. We'll see him again later."

 

The colt is to stay at Churchill Downs for a few more days while de Kock completes arrangements.

 

The May 16 Xpressbet Preakness Stakes (gr. I), where he would take on the Derby top three finishers—including runner-up Firing Line and third-place finisher Dortmund—was too quick a turnaround for his runner, de Kock said.

 

"The Belmont suits us best," de Kock said. "Mubtaahij will see out the (1 1/2 miles). We have more than a month to prepare him. Mubtaahij will be more settled and he'll be better for it, he'll come on from his Derby run."

 

De Kock said Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum's Mubtaahij, an eight-length winner of the U.A.E. Derby March 28 in his start prior to the Kentucky Derby, would ship to Belmont Park, and his son, Mathew, would oversee his training with his assistant Trevor Brown and Lisa Moncrieff.