Defining Purpose, Mimi Kakushi Put in Final Oaks Works

On an overcast morning April 29 at Churchill Downs, streaks of neon green and light pink flashed across the backstretch as a number of Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders completed final serious preparations for the following week.

Those looking toward the May 5 Run for the Lilies who turned in their final breezes Saturday morning at the Louisville oval included Kenny McPeek trainee Defining Purpose  and Middle Eastern invader Mimi Kakushi , who shipped in from Dubai for trainer Salem Bin Ghadayer.

Arriving at the Oaks after a triumph in the Ashland Stakes (G1) last out at Keeneland, Defining Purpose blitzed four furlongs in :47—fastest of 149 moves at the distance. McPeek said he likes to keep things straightforward for the daughter of Cross Traffic  .

"It's what we call a happy half-mile. She doesn't need a lot, she's fit, she's been running all winter. She cruised along. ... That's all she needs," McPeek said. "Real simple stuff for us.

"We'll just gallop up to the race, first day back she'll maybe gallop a mile, and we'll take her from there. She's got a very set routine and it's uncomplicated."

After falling short in multiple attempts for Oaks glory in previous years, including runner-up finishes with Take Charge Lady (2002), Daddys Lil Darling  (2017), and Swiss Skydiver  (2020), McPeek hopes the gray or roan filly owned in partnership by Magdelena Racing, Colette Marie VanMatre, and James Ball, will be the one who breaks through.

"This is a race we're really, really wanting to win. We've been close, and hopefully Defining Purpose is the one," McPeek said.

On the other hand, Bin Ghadayer is set to contest his very first Oaks with Mimi Kakushi, who is described as a star in the stable for owner Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. The Kentucky-bred City of Light   filly earned entry in her previous start with a victory at Meydan Racecourse in the Feb. 17 UAE Oaks (G3), where she took home 50 points.

She recorded her first work Saturday since arriving in Kentucky, completing an easy four furlongs in :50 2/5.

"I'm happy about her work. Even for me, she worked better than her last work over in Dubai so we couldn't be happier at this stage," Bin Ghadayer said. "Everything (went) well, even better than what we expected. She traveled well and didn't have any issues. She ate well and is super healthy and sound. So far we are in the right direction but still have three days until the race."

He said the filly will hand walk Sunday and then return to the track to train as normal up until the race. When asked if he is feeling the pressure, the trainer says that he tries not to carry it with him and instead focuses on the task ahead.

"We leave all the pressure behind us. Since everything is going well, to be honest I don't want to change anything. ... It's a big race but for me she's a super filly and we want to have the same program, same routine. We don't want to change a single thing. As I say, for this moment, we are so happy. She finished her homework in the right way, so we hope," Bin Ghadayer said. "The important thing is to get something on Friday, if I didn't feel she had a big chance I would not be here. But she deserves to be on this level (and in) this race and I'm pretty sure she's going to run a big race."

Jockey and exercise rider Xavier Ziani, who was not the filly's regular rider overseas but has been aboard every morning since stepping foot into the States, echoed Bin Ghadayer's sentiments.

"We are very proud to be here. It's a big achievement for us, for the whole team to come from Dubai. ... This filly has always made us proud from day one when she came to the stable," Ziani said. "Fingers crossed everything is going to be alright and let's see where she will finish. So far she adapted well.

"She's happy, she knows she's the one, she knows she's a pretty girl. Since she came here, she's looking around and happy, she doesn't act like a filly. She's super calm, super quiet, super easy. She trains well and she galloped well today I'm very happy. So far everything is good. ... I am just here temporarily and am just trying to continue what the exercise rider did. We have to thank him also, his name is Abdullah."

Ziani, who is based in the United Arab Emirates but has also ridden across North America including in California, New York, and Kentucky, said he has enjoyed his trip this spring despite the cooler temperatures. 

"I like Churchill Downs, and I like the atmosphere, (it's) just a bit too cold for us compared to Dubai. It's a lovely track, people are great with us and we can't complain about anything," he said.