Mubtaahij (IRE)B , C, foaled April 28, 2012 ( Dubawi (IRE) - Pennegale (IRE), by Pennekamp) Jockey: Christophe Soumillon Trainer: Michael F. de Kock Owner: Sheikh Mohd bin Khalifa al Maktoum Breeder: Dunmore Stud Ltd Career Record: 7 ; 4 - 1 - 0 Possible Starts: Kentucky Derby - May 2nd |
The next horse to be featured on the " Horse Spotlight " series is Mubtaahij, who is a owned by Sheikh Mohd bin Kahalifa al Maktoum and trained by Mike de Knock. Mubtaahij has ran seven times, three as a two year old, and four as a three year old. He has won four of those starts.
2 Year Old Season
He first started on turf, running in two Newmarket maidens at the end of last year (2014). He finished fifth his first time out and seventh the second time. Mubtaahij was sent to Dubai to train and run at the Meydan Racecourse. In his first time out in Dubai, he ran in a maiden race. He finished in first breaking his maiden on the third try. Those were all of Mubtaahij's runs as a two year old in 2014. He continued training at Meydan in preparation for his three year old debut.
3 Year Old Season
In his first as a three year old, Mubtaahij was entered in a seven furlongs conditions race on January 15th, 2015. He finished in first over his stablemate, Ajwad. after his win, Mubtaahij ran again on February 12th in the grade three UAE 2000 Guineas. He broke comfertably from the number three gate and settled nicely into fourth. Mubtaahij moved up into third as the field passed the 1400m pole. He then stayed on the rail, behind the leaders for the rest of the first quarter. The positions in the field didn't change for most of the race. As the field turned for home, Mubtaahij shot through an opening around the number two horse, Burnt Sugar. Maftool broke away from the field as well, and he and Mubtaahij battled down the final stretch. In the end, Mubtaahij finished second by a head to Maftool.
After his second place effort, Mubtaahij was entered in the Al Bastakiya. Mubtaahij broke well and settled into the third position. He stayed a length and a half from the leader, Ajwad, around the first turn. For a majority of the race, Mubtaahij stayed in third until the final turn. He and Sir Fever broke away from the rest of the field and battled down the final stretch, but Mubtaahij shot passed Sir Fever on the outside to win the Al Bastakiya. The final time for the race was 1:59.08.
Mubtaahij's most recent start was the Grade Two UAE Derby on March 28th, which was worth 100 points for the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May. Breaking from the gate easily, Mubtaahij was one of the first ones out on the inside. Quickly, he settled behind the three Japanese horses in fourth. With only 400m left in the race, Mubtaahij shot around the outside of two Japanese horses to take the lead. He struck the front and continued pulling away to win the UAE Derby by 8 lengths.
After his dazzling performance, Mubtaahij shipped to the States on April 16th, where he would stay in the Chicago Quarantine until April 21st to which he went to Arlington Park in Illinois. In preparation for the Kentucky Derby on May 2nd, Mubtaahij had two workouts. On April 27th at 5:30 pm, Mubtaahij arrived at Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby.
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I was able to communicate with Charl Pretorius for Mike de Knock racing over email about Mubtaahij.
Q: What is he [ Mubtaahij ] like around the barn?
A: Mubtaahij is a relaxed, friendly and gentle horse. Like most others he enjoys attention. Also enjoys the company of horses in neighbouring stables.
Q: How did he [Mubtaahij] come out of the UAE Derby?
A: We expected the UAE Derby to be a tougher race, but as it turned out he was all over them. He’d improved before the race and had no trouble beating his rivals. It wasn’t a hard race for him at all as races go, he wasn’t extended and recovered quickly and well.
Q: Were you happy with his [Mubtaahij] performance?
A: Delighted, Mubtaahij made awesome improvement in Dubai this season and he is still improving.
Q: How do you think he will do in the Kentucky Derby?
A: Well, it will be wonderful to write the newspaper headlines ourselves before the race but in reality we’re not sure what to expect, it’s not easy to draw lines of performance between Mubtaahij and his rivals. We don’t know much about them and we can’t make confident predictions, we’re honoured to have a chance to compete in this great race and in many ways it’s a learning curve for us. What we do know is that Mubtaahij is a talented young horse, he is capable of a big performance at Group race level and we’re expecting him to make his presence felt. If we finish in the money, we’ll be over the moon!
Q: Will he [Mubtaahij] like the surface?
A: That’s an open question only the race itself will answer. We spoke to some US jockeys in Dubai, who were of the opinion that the surface at Churchill Downs is similar to the track at Meydan. Let’s hope they are right, there is no way of telling.
Q: Has Mubtaahij settled in at Kentucky yet?
A: He arrived on Monday, took his van trip well, he is fine.
Q: What are your plans leading up to the Derby?
A: We’ll probably give him a final fast workout midweek and then take it easy towards the weekend.
Q: Does Mubtaahij loved to run?
A: Yes he enjoys racing, he has a competitive nature.
Q: Whats is Mubtaahij's personality like?
A: He has no niggles, as mentioned he is kind and relaxed, winds himself up for a race like may good horse do, but is well behaved most of the time. In Dubai he enjoyed the fresh air in an open barn away from the main barn.
Q: Does he have any nicknames around the barn?
A: No, he doesn’t have a nickname.
Q: How do you think he will do in the Derby?
A: As noted above, we can only speak for our horse and we don’t not know how good the others are by comparison. But we’re not in the US for a holiday, we have a good horse and we believe that if all goes well he can finish in the first four.
Q: What are key things for Mubtaahij to run good in the Derby?
A: He’s quite a versatile horse, he can adapt to fractions and can come from a few lengths off the pace. We’ll be discussing tactics with jockey Christophe Soumillon, who is a top class rider. It’s not always possible to predict the pace or place the horse where you’d want him to be. Races don’t often work out the way you want them to. Christophe has ridden our best runners for five years, he knows what we expect. He has won Group races on four continents and we’ll leave it to him.
Q: How is Mubtaahij around people?
A: As above. Friendly, loving, no problems.
Q: Whats your favorite thing about him [Mubtaahij}?
A: He’s a sound, sensible horse who runs with his heart, he gives his best.
Q: What can fans do to feel like they are a part if Team Mubtaahij?
A: Your support on social media etc, has been heartwarming.Please know that while we can’t acknowledge every individual’s support,we do appreciate it. The US public and media have been kind and helpful, thank you all. It is an honour and a privilege for us to be here, we hope there will be more runners in years to come and we trust we won’t disappoint you.
Q: Anything else you would like to add about Mubtaahij?
A: He’s been a solid, problem-free horse to train, he’s game and reliable and the Kentucky Derby will show us exactly where we stand with him. It’s his biggest test by far, we know that, but he is capable. If he puts up an satisfactory performance, we’ll consider staying on. For now, we can only hold thumbs and hope for the best. Everything is on target.
-
Good Luck to Mubtaahij & Mike de Knock in the Kentucky Derby, this Saturday. On another note today, April 28th, is Mubtaahij's official birthday! So happy official third birthday to Mubtaahij.
For more updates on Mubtaahij and Mike de Knock;s other horses visit his website http://mikedekockracing.com/wp/ or follow his twitter @MdKRacing
- Madison Moran
@madimoran_ on instagram
2 Year Old Season
He first started on turf, running in two Newmarket maidens at the end of last year (2014). He finished fifth his first time out and seventh the second time. Mubtaahij was sent to Dubai to train and run at the Meydan Racecourse. In his first time out in Dubai, he ran in a maiden race. He finished in first breaking his maiden on the third try. Those were all of Mubtaahij's runs as a two year old in 2014. He continued training at Meydan in preparation for his three year old debut.
3 Year Old Season
In his first as a three year old, Mubtaahij was entered in a seven furlongs conditions race on January 15th, 2015. He finished in first over his stablemate, Ajwad. after his win, Mubtaahij ran again on February 12th in the grade three UAE 2000 Guineas. He broke comfertably from the number three gate and settled nicely into fourth. Mubtaahij moved up into third as the field passed the 1400m pole. He then stayed on the rail, behind the leaders for the rest of the first quarter. The positions in the field didn't change for most of the race. As the field turned for home, Mubtaahij shot through an opening around the number two horse, Burnt Sugar. Maftool broke away from the field as well, and he and Mubtaahij battled down the final stretch. In the end, Mubtaahij finished second by a head to Maftool.
After his second place effort, Mubtaahij was entered in the Al Bastakiya. Mubtaahij broke well and settled into the third position. He stayed a length and a half from the leader, Ajwad, around the first turn. For a majority of the race, Mubtaahij stayed in third until the final turn. He and Sir Fever broke away from the rest of the field and battled down the final stretch, but Mubtaahij shot passed Sir Fever on the outside to win the Al Bastakiya. The final time for the race was 1:59.08.
Mubtaahij's most recent start was the Grade Two UAE Derby on March 28th, which was worth 100 points for the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May. Breaking from the gate easily, Mubtaahij was one of the first ones out on the inside. Quickly, he settled behind the three Japanese horses in fourth. With only 400m left in the race, Mubtaahij shot around the outside of two Japanese horses to take the lead. He struck the front and continued pulling away to win the UAE Derby by 8 lengths.
After his dazzling performance, Mubtaahij shipped to the States on April 16th, where he would stay in the Chicago Quarantine until April 21st to which he went to Arlington Park in Illinois. In preparation for the Kentucky Derby on May 2nd, Mubtaahij had two workouts. On April 27th at 5:30 pm, Mubtaahij arrived at Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby.
-
I was able to communicate with Charl Pretorius for Mike de Knock racing over email about Mubtaahij.
Q: What is he [ Mubtaahij ] like around the barn?
A: Mubtaahij is a relaxed, friendly and gentle horse. Like most others he enjoys attention. Also enjoys the company of horses in neighbouring stables.
Q: How did he [Mubtaahij] come out of the UAE Derby?
A: We expected the UAE Derby to be a tougher race, but as it turned out he was all over them. He’d improved before the race and had no trouble beating his rivals. It wasn’t a hard race for him at all as races go, he wasn’t extended and recovered quickly and well.
Q: Were you happy with his [Mubtaahij] performance?
A: Delighted, Mubtaahij made awesome improvement in Dubai this season and he is still improving.
Q: How do you think he will do in the Kentucky Derby?
A: Well, it will be wonderful to write the newspaper headlines ourselves before the race but in reality we’re not sure what to expect, it’s not easy to draw lines of performance between Mubtaahij and his rivals. We don’t know much about them and we can’t make confident predictions, we’re honoured to have a chance to compete in this great race and in many ways it’s a learning curve for us. What we do know is that Mubtaahij is a talented young horse, he is capable of a big performance at Group race level and we’re expecting him to make his presence felt. If we finish in the money, we’ll be over the moon!
Q: Will he [Mubtaahij] like the surface?
A: That’s an open question only the race itself will answer. We spoke to some US jockeys in Dubai, who were of the opinion that the surface at Churchill Downs is similar to the track at Meydan. Let’s hope they are right, there is no way of telling.
Q: Has Mubtaahij settled in at Kentucky yet?
A: He arrived on Monday, took his van trip well, he is fine.
Q: What are your plans leading up to the Derby?
A: We’ll probably give him a final fast workout midweek and then take it easy towards the weekend.
Q: Does Mubtaahij loved to run?
A: Yes he enjoys racing, he has a competitive nature.
Q: Whats is Mubtaahij's personality like?
A: He has no niggles, as mentioned he is kind and relaxed, winds himself up for a race like may good horse do, but is well behaved most of the time. In Dubai he enjoyed the fresh air in an open barn away from the main barn.
Q: Does he have any nicknames around the barn?
A: No, he doesn’t have a nickname.
Q: How do you think he will do in the Derby?
A: As noted above, we can only speak for our horse and we don’t not know how good the others are by comparison. But we’re not in the US for a holiday, we have a good horse and we believe that if all goes well he can finish in the first four.
Q: What are key things for Mubtaahij to run good in the Derby?
A: He’s quite a versatile horse, he can adapt to fractions and can come from a few lengths off the pace. We’ll be discussing tactics with jockey Christophe Soumillon, who is a top class rider. It’s not always possible to predict the pace or place the horse where you’d want him to be. Races don’t often work out the way you want them to. Christophe has ridden our best runners for five years, he knows what we expect. He has won Group races on four continents and we’ll leave it to him.
Q: How is Mubtaahij around people?
A: As above. Friendly, loving, no problems.
Q: Whats your favorite thing about him [Mubtaahij}?
A: He’s a sound, sensible horse who runs with his heart, he gives his best.
Q: What can fans do to feel like they are a part if Team Mubtaahij?
A: Your support on social media etc, has been heartwarming.Please know that while we can’t acknowledge every individual’s support,we do appreciate it. The US public and media have been kind and helpful, thank you all. It is an honour and a privilege for us to be here, we hope there will be more runners in years to come and we trust we won’t disappoint you.
Q: Anything else you would like to add about Mubtaahij?
A: He’s been a solid, problem-free horse to train, he’s game and reliable and the Kentucky Derby will show us exactly where we stand with him. It’s his biggest test by far, we know that, but he is capable. If he puts up an satisfactory performance, we’ll consider staying on. For now, we can only hold thumbs and hope for the best. Everything is on target.
-
Good Luck to Mubtaahij & Mike de Knock in the Kentucky Derby, this Saturday. On another note today, April 28th, is Mubtaahij's official birthday! So happy official third birthday to Mubtaahij.
For more updates on Mubtaahij and Mike de Knock;s other horses visit his website http://mikedekockracing.com/wp/ or follow his twitter @MdKRacing
- Madison Moran
@madimoran_ on instagram