Bob Baffert, whose Arrogate is the favourite for the $10m Dubai World Cup on Saturday, said here on Wednesday his colt is “the dirt version of Frankel”, the brilliant champion who won all 14 of his races in England in the same green, white and pink colours of Prince Khalid Abdullah.
It is a comparison that could offend some of the many fans who cherish Frankel’s memory. While Arrogate is not unbeaten, having suffered an unfortunate defeat on his debut 11 months ago, he has won his six starts since including the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November. And like Frankel at the same stage of his career, he has entered the spring of his four-year-old campaign with the potential to become one of the greats.
Arrogate was placed in stall nine of 14 at the draw for post positions here on Wednesday and the betting at least suggests he will extend his winning streak to seven with little fuss. The 1-3 available with Coral is typical.
“It’s pretty amazing the Prince has had a superhorse like Frankel and now he’s got a superhorse like this horse,” Baffert said. “Turf versus dirt, it’s so different. Frankel was an incredible horse, I remember every time he ran I made sure I got up real early to watch his races in England and he was spectacular.
“I think this horse is like the dirt version, in the States, of Frankel, so it’s pretty amazing he would own two of the best horses that we’ve seen. I trained [the 2015 Triple Crown winner] American Pharoah, and I thought when he retired it was going to be really tough to fill those shoes, and then here comes Arrogate. He got into those shoes and just kept on.”
The fact Frankel never raced outside England is perhaps the one slight criticism that could be made of his astonishing career. Arrogate is now trying to carry his winning form halfway around the world, having won the $12m Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in Florida in late January. Meydan has a dirt surface and the layout is a classic American oval but this is still a step into the unknown.
“I think him and American Pharoah, they’re the two best I’ve trained,” Baffert said. “They’re just superior animals, when they bring their A game, nothing can get near them, they’re that good. American Pharoah got beat [by Keen Ice in the 2015 Travers Stakes] when he brought his B game.
“Arrogate is the best horse in the world but this is still a challenge for him, to bring him over here and for him to run his race. Hopefully he takes to it but it’s different here. The barn area is so far away, that walk really changes things because our horses aren’t used to it. So far he’s handled everything well and I haven’t seen anything that tells me he’s not going to run his race.”
In one respect at least, Arrogate is already well ahead of Frankel, as Frankel’s career earnings of £3m do not place him in the all-time top 50 around the racing world. Arrogate has a career total of just over US$11m, or about £8.84m at current rates, and the $6m first prize on Saturday would ensure Baffert’s colt becomes the biggest money-earner in history.
Following the draw, Arrogate’s trainer is already starting to think about how Saturday’s race could unfold. Two more US-based runners, Gun Runner and Neolithic, may well set the pace, with Arrogate and perhaps his stablemate Hoppertunity waiting to pounce in the stretch.
“I think Gun Runner, he’s the horse that’s probably going to be the target in the race,” Baffert said. “I’m hoping I’m close to him [turning in] and Neolithic, he’s a really fast horse as well. The break is going to be the most important part. Arrogate missed the break one time on his first start and he couldn’t get out and got beat.
“He’s the heavy favourite but he still has to have racing luck and get around there, so it’s not a gimme.”