Bob Baffert vs Everybody in $12m Dubai World Cup

It’s the $12m Dubai World Cup by Emirates Airlines and it’s Bob Baffert who’s after a fifth World Cup success with the $9 Ladbroke pick Newgate, and Frankie Dettori.

In wanting to retain the World Cup trophy, it was his 2022 winner Country Grammer who was well beaten last year by Ushba Tesoro, having been second to Panthalassa in the Saudi Cup.

With Frankie Dettori also winning on Country Grammer, Baffert had Arrogate producing a Secretariat-style finish in 2017, Captain Steve in 2001 and dual classic winner Silver Charm in 1998.

And Newgate is definitely on-track, as Frankie Dettori rode him score a thrilling last start ‘head’ victory in the Santa Anita Handicap, when over a length second at the 1½ furlongs mark.

A first-up second this year as a 4yo in the San Pasqual Stakes, he only raced twice last season in winning the Robert B Lewis Stakes, again with Frankie, and was a group placed winner at two.

Sired by champion US sire Into Mischief, he’s a $850,000 graduate of the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, being from the Gr3 placed winning Majestic Warrior mare Majestic Presence.

Again this year, it’s the return of Ushba Tesoro in being a head second in the $20m Saudi Cup, who is the $3.50 betting site race favourite having been a good fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November.

To be ridden again by Yuga Kawada for trainer Noboru Takagi, he won twice last year up to 2000m, and is by Japanese champion Orfevre, who was twice second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

As the $5 race second-choice, the UAE Derby winner Derma Sotogake is also a hurdle for Bob Baffert, and although fifth to Senor Buscador in the Saudi Cup was second in the Breeders’ Classic.

In accepting his ‘win and you’re in’ to the Kentucky Derby for his UAE success and finishing a sixth to Mage, he will again be ridden by French expat Christophe Lemaire for Hidetaka Otonashi.

However, with Derma Sotogake being a ¥19.8m 2021 JBIS Select Yearling Sale graduate by dual Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Mind Your Biscuits, it’s another story for fellow $5 pick Kabirkhan.

Only a $12,000 buy at the 2021 September Yearling Sale for Nadir Khassanov, Kabrikhan is by twice US Horse of The Year California Chrome from stakes winning Castledale mare Little Emily.

In winning all three starts at two in Kazakhstan, he was purchased by TV host Tlek Mukanbetkaliyev and shipped to Arslangirey Shavuyev with the Russian Derby his only defeat in six race starts.

And with both Kabrikhan and Russian Derby victor Hero Mo now trained by Doug Watson in Meydan, Kabrikhan reversed his Derby defeat in beating Hero Mo in the Dubai Islands Handicap.

However, with Kabirkhan the ‘talk horse’ of the Carnival, he qualified for the Dubai World Cup by scoring a 4¾ length victory in the Al Maktoum Challenge, and again will be ridden by Pat Dobbs.

In fact, both Kabrikhan and Hero Mo are Kentucky bred and both nominated for the Breeders’ Cup, with Hero Mo being a $27,000 buy from the 2021 September Yearling Sale, sired by Mo Town.

In keeping the story alive, it’s the $20 Saudi Cup winner Senor Buscador who is paying $8 with betting apps for trainer Todd Fincher and Junior Alvarado, in previously being a neck second in the Pegasus World Cup.

In summary, is Senor Buscador the new era of the Breeders’ Cup Classic being a possible first leg of a $41m Championship comprising the BC Classic-Pegasus Word Cup-Saudi Cup-Dubai World Cup.

Senor Buscador was seventh to White Abarrio in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, sidelined to the Cigar Mile, then second in the Pegasus, winning the Saudi Cup and now the Dubai World Cup.

Both Ushba Tesoto and Derma Sotagake contested the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, missed the Pegasus World Cup, ran in the $20m Saudi Cup and now it’s the $12m Dubai World Cup.