De Kock Says American Pharoah a 'Super Horse'
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As he prepares United Arab Emirates Derby (UAE-II) winner Mubtaahij for the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), trainer Michael de Kock has no misconceptions about the task of trying to upend American Pharoah's Triple Crown quest.
"I think for all of us, if the American Pharoah who turned up in the last two races turns up (in the Belmont), we're probably running for second," de Kock said the morning of June 2 at Belmont Park in reference to American Pharoah's victories in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes, both grade I. "He's a super horse. He's moving like a monorail; he does it with such great ease. His work has been phenomenal. As a trainer, you would be ecstatic.
"But if he fluffs his lines, anybody can win it. But there is no indication he will do that."
A 3-year-old son of Dubawi bred in Ireland by Dunmore Stud, Mubtaahij races for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum's Essafinaat Ltd. In eight starts—including two at England's Newmarket and five at Dubai's Meydan Racecourse—Mubtaahij has four wins and a second to his credit, with converted earnings of $1,461,332. Following his eight-length UAE Derby win March 28, the colt finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby.
De Kock, who arrived in New York late Monday from his base in South Africa, saw his charge for the first time since his Derby experience, although he has been following his progress via videos.
"He looks good. He's eating well. We're very keen to get it on," de Kock said.
De Kock said that unlike in the Derby, Mubtaahij will be closer to the pace in the Belmont, but is uncertain if the colt can turn it around to the point of beating American Pharoah.
"We're going to be on the outside," de Kock said of where the colt will be placed in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont. "Last time, we were in a position we were not meant to be in. Certainly, we will get a lot closer, but as for turning things around, I don't think that is going to be easy."
With a sloppy track at Belmont Park the morning of June 2, Mubtaahij galloped rather than going through a "blowout" (quick, short breeze) as de Kock would have preferred. If the weather improves and the track dries, de Kock said the colt could have the blowout either Wednesday or Thursday.
Overall, de Kock said Mubtaahij appears to like the Belmont surface better than he did the track at Churchill Downs.
"This has been a consistent surface over which to train," de Kock said.
Unlike some international trainers who treat their horses with the permitted diuretic furosemide (Salix, also known as Lasix) when they race in the U.S., de Kock said there are no plans to give Mubtaahij with the anti-bleeder medication.
"He has never bled so there is no reason for me to use it," de Kock. "If he needed it, I would give it to him."
Regardless of how Mubtaahij runs in the Belmont, de Kock said he and his team have enjoyed the experience of being part of the Triple Crown.
"It's been very exciting and we're privileged to be part of it with a horse this great," he said of American Pharoah. "This looks like a pretty special horse."
Following the Belmont, Mubtaahij will return to England to continue racing, with plans for him to contest the 2016 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I).
"This is a World Cup horse," the trainer said, jokingly adding a caveat, "unless American Pharoah shows up. Please, American Pharoah—stay away."