Mubtaahij 4th, Keen Ice 7th, as Special Fighter rolls in Dubai
In what was billed as a meeting between Mubtaahij and Keen Ice, it was instead the unheralded Special Fighter who threw his hat into the ring as a legitimate contender for the March 26 Dubai World Cup with an an authoritative victory in today’s Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge - Round 3.
Sent right to the lead from his number six post position, the five-year-old son of Teofilo set the early pace on a Meydan main track noticeably faster than any other evening during the Carnival. Meanwhile, both Mubtaahij and Keen Ice were asked to stay in striking distance early. The former from the rail, and the latter, who had been asked early to get a prominent early position, on the outside.
Special Fighter continued to pace the compact field of 12 through moderate early fractions, while Faulkner and Gun Pit kept closest contact in second and third. Keen Ice tracked in fourth, with Mubtaahij on the rail in fifth. Rider Fernando Jara, who is already a World Cup winner aboard Invasor back in 2007, continued to let his longshot mount lope along on the lead through steady quarters, as the others began to be asked for their best in earnest.
First Keen Ice, and then Mubtaahij were asked to quicken with little answer, and it became clear, by the time the field of twelve had hit the lane, that it would not be either favorite’s day. The only horse who actually appeared to menace was the Australian, Gun Pit, but when Jara asked for the best from Special Fighter, he easily spurted clear on his way to a nearly five-length score over Gun Pit, who was easily second, with Faulkner third.
Mubtaahij stayed on well for fourth, while Keen Ice came up completely empty and finished seventh, just behind another American, Watershed.
- California Chrome and Frosted move forward as the two clear favorites for the World Cup, with Mshawish a likely third choice.
- Special Fighter, today’s winner at 33-1, is a new contender to consider, but the condition of the track certainly had something to do with his front running, track record victory (2:03.09).
- Neither Mubtaahij, nor Keen Ice have shown much in two starts each this year, and would really have to pick up their games to have any shot in the world’s richest race.
- The form of Frosted was flattered, as two horses he blasted last time, Special Fighter and Faulkner, both came back with good performances today.
- A track similar to this one on March 26 would seem to be a good thing for California Chrome, as the 2014 Horse of the Year prefers to attend the early pace.
It was a big performance by Special Fighter, but not the most impressive of the Super Saturday card. One race earlier, the extremely classy distance turf runner, Postponed thoroughly outclassed the competition in the Group 2 Dubai City of Gold. The five-year-old son of Dubawi has now won three in a row, including the Group 1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. This was his first race in 2016, and sends him into the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic on World Cup night as the one to beat.