Meet Kabirkhan, a Kazakhstan-Owned Dubai World Cup Hope

The old saw, "another country heard from" looks more and more appropriate in the run-up to the Dubai World Cup (G1) as Kazakhstan-owned, Russian-trained Kentucky-bred Kabirkhan swept to an easy victory in the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) Jan. 26 at Meydan Racecourse. On the undercard in a stakes-filled "Fashion Friday" evening, Mendelssohn Bay, a colt by 2018 U.A.E. Derby (G2) winner Mendelssohn out of a mare by 2008 Dubai World Cup winner Curlin, posted an easy victory in the UAE Two Thousand Guineas (G3). Kabirkhan was the star of the show and bids to be a star of the entire Carnival and also boasts ties to a previous big winner in Dubai. The Kentucky-bred son of 2014 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner and 2016 World Cup winner California Chrome, after dominating rivals in Russia as a 3-year-old, came to Dubai with question marks about his talent relative to international competition. He aced the first test, winning a handicap by four lengths in his Meydan debut Jan. 12 but faced a sterner challenge in the Al Maktoum Challenge against a field that included American invader Clapton, whose trainer, Chad Summers, picked Dubai over the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park. Again, Kabirkhan had the answers, racking up an A-plus score with a smooth, stretch-running victory by 4 3/4 lengths over Franz Strauss (GB) with Clapton settling for third. The victory earned a guaranteed spot in the World Cup March 30. "He's just a really nice horse," said winning trainer Doug Watson. "We had him working at home and before we ran him two weeks ago, we knew he was good but we didn't know if he could compete in the races over here on this track... It's not easy to come back in two weeks and run quite like he did there—real nice time and to do it so nicely and easily in the end. "We'll see what they want to do. There's a third leg obviously on Super Saturday. But if they want to go straight to World Cup, I'm happy with that." Kabirkhan was a $12,000 bargain purchase from the Mulholland Springs consignment to the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Summers said before the race he was hopeful Clapton, a multiple graded stakes-winning son of Brethren, could improve on an 11th-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in his last race. "You never know until they run a race. That's what makes this travel so difficult," Summers said. Mendelssohn Bay Shines The Guineas is a direct prep for the UAE Derby on March 30. That race is a 100-point leg of the Churchill Downs' Road to the Kentucky Derby and virtually ensures the winner a spot in the Run for the Roses. Missing from the lineup was Ma Yetal, a two-time local winner who likely would have been favored. That opened the door for Mendelssohn Bay and Quartier (URU), who finished fourth and second, respectively, behind Ma Yetal in the UAE Two Thousand Guineas Trial Jan. 5. Mendelssohn Bay, with Pat Cosgrave up for trainer Bhupat Seemar, battled for the lead through much of the 1,600 meters (about one mile), then kicked clear through the late going and won by 3 3/4 lengths from stablemate Killer Collect with Quartier third. "I think he's going to get better with distance," Seemar said. "So will the other horse. I just hope they can stay healthy until the big day." While he did not discuss Kentucky Derby (G1) options, Seemar, a former assistant to Bob Baffert, has deep roots in American racing and in the past has expressed hope to have a Derby candidate. Other 'Fashion Friday' Stakes The Al Shindagha Sprint (G3) is a pointer toward the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) on World Cup night and Mouheeb made a case for his chances in that with an emphatic 6 3/4-length victory. After stalking the pace under Tom Marquand, the 6-year-old son of Flatter saved ground, shot through between rivals with 200 meters to run and was untroubled thereafter. Mouheeb finished the 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) on the dirt in 1:11.31 and the winner of the 2021 UAE Two Thousand Guineas gave every indication he can do better this time around than his 13th-place showing in the 2023 Golden Shaheen. Hypothetical (IRE), a 7-year-old Lope de Vega (IRE) horse, battled gamely through the stretch to win the 1,600-meter Firebreak Stakes (G3) by three-quarters of a length over Southern Artist. Hypothetical, a group 1 winner during the 2022 Carnival, had struggled since but returned to form at this lower level. Asked if the veteran campaigner might be his mount for the Godolphin Mile (G2) on World Cup night, jockey Mickael Barzalona said, "You never know."