Clockers Miss Mubtaahij’s Work

G2 U.A.E. Derby hero Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) worked a half-mile over the polytrack at Arlington Saturday morning, but that work was missed by the clockers because the circuit’s main clocking crew was still at Hawthorne. Luckily, trainer Mike de Kock employs Fine Equinity, a GPS-based training management tracking system that records work out times, heart rates and more. 

The system recorded Mubtaahij’s final GI Kentucky Derby work out in :49.70, with the final three furlongs in :35.30. 

“I was very happy with both pieces of work,” assistant trainer Trevor Brown said, referring to both Mubtaahij and GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic hopeful Umigyo (Aus) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who went a half-mile in approximately :50. “They had a good blow out and were a bit more intense than on Tuesday. They seemed to come out of it in good order and got right into their food mangers afterward.” 

De Kock remained in South Africa to saddle several runners at Turffonstein Racecourse Saturday for the richest day in South African racing. He was rewarded with wins in the G1 Computaform Sprint, G1 South African Oaks and a Group 2 event, and a second in the G1 President’s Champions Challenge. The conditioner will fly to Louisville Monday. 

“We had too many runners in big races today and it would have been much too rushed,” de Kock said from Johannesburg. “I’m really looking forward to getting to Louisville now.”