The TDN's Christie DeBernardis caught up with trainer Mike de Kock in Barn 22 at Belmont Park, where the South African conditioner has been stabling his GI Belmont S. contender Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum, Mubtaahij was ultra impressive in winning the G2 UAE Derby, which gave him enough points to qualify for the GI Kentucky Derby. The connections gave de Kock the green light to go to Louisville and participate in his first Kentucky Derby, where Mubtaahij finished a respectable eighth after a less than ideal trip. De Kock shipped the bay right from Louisville to Belmont for another chance at winning a Triple Crown race.
CD: This is your first time racing in New York. How has the experience been here compared to Kentucky?
MDK: “Different, but equally great. We have really enjoyed ourselves here. The [GI] Kentucky Derby, in terms of people, was crazy. There seems to be less people around the barns and less press now which is okay, but its probably just on a different scale, but equally as exciting.”
CD: Have you gotten to enjoy any parts of New York besides Belmont?
MDK: “I got to see a little bit of it yesterday [in NYC for the draw,] most of it through the bottom of a wine glass. But, I enjoyed it. It's the first time I have ever been to NY.”
CD: How has Mubtaahij taken to the track here?
MDK: “Very, very well. He has been here for a while now, over three weeks. He is moving well over it. We measure stride length and heart rate and things like that, and we can see in the darter that he is stretching a lot better than he was. The thing with Churchill is he came after having been at three different venues in a month, feed change, no routine. Whereas here, he has had a routine. He has been here for over 3 1/2 weeks. He is far more settled, which I think is more in the horse's favor.”
CD: Mubtaahij breezed three times last week and he breezed again this morning (going three furlongs in :37.61). Is that sort of work pattern typical for him?
MDK: “Yes, European and South African horses will breeze minimum twice a week. The horses are used to it. It's not a problem. I know it's foreign here, but it's certainly absolutely normal for our horses. This morning, he only worked three furlongs. It's nothing. You could do that on the morning of the race.”
CD: Do you think he will handle the 1 1/2-mile distance well?
MDK: “I think so. He is bred for it being by Dubawi. When he won the Derby in UAE he was running to the line hard. Certainly, on paper it shouldn't be a problem.”
CD: How do you feel about the rail draw?
MDK: “Not exactly ecstatic about it. I was looking for the eight draw to be honest, to be on the outside. It is what it is. Irad [Ortiz] is the leading rider at Belmont. He must deal with it. Its not my job.”
CD: Do you feel confident about having Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons for the first time?
MDK: “I'm happy he is in the irons. He has ridden the horse in the mornings [including today's breeze]. He is happy with the horse. He knows his way around Belmont. He has been the leading rider here. It says a lot for him. He is a nice young man and he seems to be a man that is on the up. I am happy to give him the chance, very happy.”
CD: Do you think Mubtaahij will be closer to American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) this time around?
MDK: “I think he will improve on his Kentucky Derby form, if he gets good trip. As I said, going into the Derby there was no routine and he ran creditable. He didn't get a good trip around. He didn't get into a good position ever to challenge that we were happy with. We certainly didn't want to be near the rail, but we were there the whole way getting the kickback in the face, and there was a lot of kickback. He only got beaten nine lengths and I think he can improve on that form.”
CD: How do you feel about being in the position to possibly play the role of spoiler in the Triple Crown?
MDK: “Well I suppose six other trainers are in the same sort of boat as me, but I wouldn't mind being a spoiler. You know what I mean? I'd feel guilty for about 30 seconds and then I'd be all right. We will cross that bridge if it ever happens.”
CD: What are your future plans for Mubtaahij?
MDK: “I think after this we will probably ship back to the UK, chill there and then back to the UAE. I think he is a [G1 Dubai] World Cup horse. I think he is a serious contender for the Al Maktoum Challenge in the World Cup next season.”
CD: Besides Mubtaahij, you also brought over Umgiyo (Aus) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who finished ninth in the GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on the Derby undercard. Tell me about your plans for him?
MDK: “He will stay in the U.S. with Christophe [Clement]. He is a very capable horse. He only got beaten five lengths in the stake that day, but he was in the same boat as [Mubtaahij]. No routine, nothing went [right] for him. We wanted to sit him in, but he went to the front. Nothing went for him. We were planning to run him Saturday [in an allowance,] but he hasn't been eating well the past two days. He hasn't been himself, so we aren't going to run him. I'm not going to take a chance.”
CD: Why were you going to run in an allowance instead of the original plan of running in the GI Manhattan S. Saturday?
MDK: “All I wanted to do was just get his confidence back. He has been overfaced the last few times in Group 1s, so I just wanted to drop a level and try and get him back in a good space. But, sadly he hasn't eaten well the past two days and he is usually well in the manger, so we are going to scratch.”
CD: Why did Umgiyo's connections decide to leave him in the United States?
MDK: “I actually own a share of him with a couple of mates of mine. We are keen to get him to pay a few expenses. He has been costing us.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.