Dubai World Cup runner-up Mubtaahij (IRE) and Vale Dori (ARG), fourth in the UAE Derby, will be transferred to trainers in the United States with a view to US campaigns during the remainder of 2016.
Following discussions with their owner, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, four-year-old colt Mubtaahij will be joining trainer Kiaran McLaughlin in New York, while three-year-old filly Vale Dori is set for a spell with Bob Baffert on the other side of the US near Los Angeles.
Mubtaahij
Mike de Kock commented: “I was asked to take Mubtaahij to the US, but as it is I am stretched between the Southern and Northern Hemispheres and I don’t want to put my assistants under too much pressure as US racing and training is highly scrutinised by the media. It would be unfair to subject them to that pressure.
Mike de Kock
“Mubtaahijj will be in the care of Kiaran McLaughlin, one of the top trainers in the US and also successful in Dubai this year in a number of races and previously with World Cup winner Invasor. Mubtaahij will return to me in Dubai for the 2017 Carnival.
“Vale Dori will go to Bob Baffert, who is a Hall Of Fame trainer known for his recent exploits with American Pharoah and many other great names of US racing. She won’t be coming back, however. She is set to go to stud in the US with leading stallion Tapit having been earmarked as her first covering.”
Mike added: “Both Mubtaahij and Vale Dori have big races in them, but I am not able to comment on the exact feature contests their new trainers will be looking at.”
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