DUBAI WORLD CUP adiyat racing plus.com 9 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 838 Thursday 21st March 2024 catches him like it was an exercise gallop. Winning the first time with Silver Charm was just really exciting. It’s the only race that you lead your horse up there and you go ‘I think he’s doing well but I really don’t know. I hope he handles everything.’ “I remember Captain Steve; he was normally on the lead but he was four lengths off it and I thought ‘maybe he’s not running’ and then he came up and won it. It’s magical, it’s a challenge and I love challenges, but if you have a good horse and he’s ready, you can win it.” Baffert also has a Dubai Golden Shaheen on his roll of honour, having won the $2million sprint with Secret Circle in 2015. His runner this year, Hopkins, was fourth to the reopposing Sibelius 12 months ago. “Hopkins ran well last year and I think he’s doing better this year,” says Baffert. “He always shows up; he’s big strong horse. I had him and another horse but I decided to go with him because he’s doing so well right now. When you go halfway across the world you have to make sure your horse is in top form because it’s a tough ship.” Missing out on Dubai, where will he watch the action? Over a relaxed lunch with friends, perhaps? Not the case. “I usually watch it in my barn at Santa Anita with all the grooms; we all huddle up to watch. It’s exciting when they run well. To win the Dubai World Cup, it’s just a thrill.” Arrogate Country Grammer SAVED BY DUBAI , LOVED BY DUBAI Baffert’s love of Dubai is rooted in genuine emotion, understandably so. “Dubai – everytime I go, it changes. It’s so much fun – I’ve gone snow skiing there! It’s a working vacation. “I have great memories because I had a heart attack there and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, saved me. “I have so much respect for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and his family – he’s such a visionary guy and has been really good for American racing. “I got a second chance; he sent a top guy (doctor) in there and he fixed me. There wouldn’t have been any Triple Crowns if he hadn’t saved me.” he rek he’s t. “He orse. I ded to ll right world top tch h s “I USUALLY WATCH IT IN MY BARN AT SANTA ANITA WITH ALL THE GROOMS; WE ALL HUDDLE UP TO WATCH. IT’S EXCITING WHEN THEY RUN WELL. TO WIN THE DUBAI WORLD CUP, IT’S JUST A THRILL!”
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