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US ace Frosted expected to warm to the task

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Frosted

Top US performer Frosted is on the Dubai World Cup trail

  PICTURE: Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos  

 By Jason Ford 8:13AM 4 FEB 2016 

Al Maktoum Challenge R2 sponsored by EGA (Group 2)

Meydan 4.45, Thursday

FROM snow to Frosted – last week trainer Kiaran McLaughlin was regaling the Racing Post about his battles in New York following Storm Jonas; yesterday he was in the sunnier climes of Dubai discussing the prospects of World Cup joint-second favourite Frosted.

The four-year-old is one of four runners for McLaughlin on the carnival card at Meydan today, which also plays host to another leading World Cup fancy in Mubtaahij and a dozen British and Irish-trained runners, half of whom contest the opening turf sprint handicap.

McLaughlin has already won the Dubai World Cup with Invasor in 2007, and Frosted competed at the top level in the US last year.

Winner of the Grade 1 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct in April, he was then fourth in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Belmont.

Both races were won by American Pharoah, as was Frosted’s final start of the campaign, the Breeders’ Cup Classic, in which he finished a remote seventh behind the Triple Crown champion.

Today he makes his UAE debut in the second round of the Maktoum Challenge (4.45), a Group 2 contest over 1m1½f on dirt. Moon Ballad took it in 2003 before winning that year’s Dubai World Cup, while in the past two years both African Story and Prince Bishop were runner-up in this race before winning the world’s richest contest.

New experience

McLaughlin said: “He’s settled in really well to his new surroundings and is loving the Dubai weather. I flew in early this week and am delighted with him.

“It will be a different experience for him; new track, new jockey – but we’d like to think he’s the one to beat. We’ve discussed tactics with William Buick, who is a top jockey, and all is primed for a big run.”

McLaughlin, who also runs Elnaawi, added: “Frosted is the type who thrives on his work and racing so, if all goes well, he’ll likely run in the third round of the race on Super Saturday on his way to the World Cup.”

Raiding party

The Doug Watson pair of Layl and Faulkner, a close second and fourth in the opening round of the Maktoum Challenge, along with Munaaser and Special Fighter will carry local hopes, while Mike de Kock is represented by Prayer For Relief, third in the opening round and running on very strongly.

De Kock will saddle Mubtaahij in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes (5.55). Winner of last year’s UAE Derby, he prospered on the Meydan dirt last year before travelling to the US where he was far from disgraced, albeit finishing behind Frosted in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont.

Sent to Britain for his summer break, he has reportedly thrived and the trainer said: “This has been the plan to get him back on the track. We know he handles the surface and stays further so we’ll just build him up, hopefully with the World Cup as the end target.

“He’s fit, well and ready to run, but we’ve left a bit to work on. Hopefully his class will see him through.”

The winner of the opening round of the Maktoum Challenge, Le Bernardin, is one of Mubtaahij’s six rivals along with the McLaughlin pair of Confrontation and Watershed.

In the opening 5f handicap (3.35), the Marco Botti-trained Naadirr, last seen finishing a five-length fifth behind Muhaarar in the Group 1 sprint at Ascot on British Champions Day in October, leads the raiding party.

Dubai World Cup (March 26)
Sky Bet 7-2 California Chrome, 7 Frosted, Mubtaahij, 10 Intilaaq, 12 Effinex, 16 bar.

 

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