MUBTAAHIJ will be staying on in the US to be aimed at the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes to be run over 2400m on 6 June at Belmont Park in New York, Mike de Kock confirmed on Monday afternoon.
This is a change from the original plan to ship Mubtaahij to the UK and Mike commented: “After Saturday’s Kentucky Derby we had some time to reflect on his performance. We watched the race replay, spoke to some people and got opinion. Mubtaahij ran a decent race and his owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum agreed that his run was good enough to keep him here for a tilt at the Belmont.”
Mike said that Mubtaahij would remain at Churchill Downs for a few more days until all the necessary administrative arrangements had been made, including US insurances required. He said: “We will send Mubtaahij up to Belmont Park and Mathew de Kock will stay on with Trevor Brown and Lisa Moncrieff to prepare him for the Belmont Stakes.
“Going for the Preakness with Mubtaahij will be hard. He will be up against the first three past the post in the Derby, the race is two weeks away and is run over 100m shorter than the Derby. The Belmont Stakes suits us best. Mubtaahij will see out the 2400m, 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.”
Mike and Diane return to South Africa on Tuesday.
10 Comments
Mike, That’s GREAT news and I think he has a great chance of getting the win. Good Luck
That is fantastic news! I am actually going to be at Belmont – and this will make it even more special!
I would love to meet “Mub”….
You should send him up to Saratoga and let him train on the Oklahoma up until the Belmont.
Brilliant!!!!! It was in my mind to write and suggest having a go at the Belmont! You read my mind and probably all of SA! You can do it!
Exciting!!! I love it. I’m sure Mubtaahij will find the distance no problem.
This is very exciting. Wish you the best of luck! I hope he settles in nicely at Belmont.
Glad to see MUBTAAHIJ IN THE BELMONT, I BET HE WINS AND AGAIN NO TRIPLE CROWN!!!!!!!!!
Love Mooby . I think you have pulled the right rein
Fantastic! I was hoping you would consider staying. The Belmont will be his kind of race.
I loved this horse’s run in the UAE Derby, and admire his connections’ sporting gesture in sending him to Kentucky.
The original plan of putting this horse on the shelf until next year made no sense; the time involved is an eternity in horse racing. If you all believe this horse to act better on dirt than turf, the USA is the only place for him to be for the next five months; there is nothing for him in Europe or South Africa.
Best of luck to all of you!