Dubai: What do Thunder Gulch, Charismatic, Mine That Bird and Animal Kingdom have in common? All of them won the Kentucky Derby (G1), America’s iconic flat race, at long odds.
Thunder Gulch and Mine That Bird triumphed at odds of 50/1, Charismatic did it as a 30/1 long shot and Animal Kingdom when only a 15/1 chance. Together they proved that the race they call the ‘Run For The Roses’ is one of the most open events in the sport and that being the favourite, can sometimes count for nothing.
Two horses with Dubai connections, Godolphin’s Frosted and the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum-owned Mubtaahij, will hope to join the illustrious quartet and become the latest outsider to capture the $2 million (Dh7.34 million) contest in its 141st edition at it’s ancestral home at Churchill Downs, Kentucky, Lousville.
Frosted, who is trained by former UAE champion handler Kiaran McLaughlin, is currently listed as a 15/1 prospect, having previously been available at odds of 20/1 or more, while Mubtaahij, the exciting UAE Derby (G2) hero who is prepared by South Africa’s globe-trotting champion trainer Mike de Kock, is 20/1 on the markets.
The majority of the public money has been on the Bob Baffert-trained duo of American Pharoah (5/2) and Dortmund (3/1), who have long dominated the build-up up to Saturday’s highlight which will be contested by a strong and varied field of 22 runners.
Frosted, a gray-coated colt who is bred by Darley, the breeding arm of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will bid to secure a first success for Team Godolphin, who have long yearned for a big American victory.
The son of Tapit, unleashed a powerful late run to win the Wood Memorial (G1) on his most recent start and comes into the race with strong, winning form.
It’s been a lifelong dream to win the Kentucky Derby especially for Godolphin,” McLaughlin, 54, said on a viceo posted on YouTube. “All 19 other owners deserve to win the race, but no one more than Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his commitment and passion to the thoroughbred industry, No one has done more for our game so it would be great to win this for him.”
De Kock is making his Kentucky Derby debut with Mubtaahij, who was ugely impressive in Dubai, winning four of his five starts including a thumping an eight-length victory in the UAE Derby (G1) on Dubai World Cup night.
Commenting on Mubtaahij’s draw in the 22-runner field, De Kock told his website. “I am told the No 1 draw is the kiss of death in this race so we’re happy to have gotten No 6.
“From watching many Derbys, I think the cream gets settled very early in the race. If my horse can deal with the first quarter-mile of frenzy, I think he’ll be all right.”
With an average attendance of 150,000, the Kentucky Derby is the most-watched horse race in the United States or anywhere else in the world.
