Unbeaten Forever Young Eyes Kentucky Derby Points In Dubai

American Hopes

As a racing fan, Matt Cutair, the managing partner of Adelphi Racing Club, had made one previous trip to Dubai in 2017, and he witnessed one of the greatest victories in the history of the Dubai World Cup when Arrogate overcame a brutally slow break to scoop the big prize.

Cutair, along with his partners Madaket Stables, Corns Racing Stable and On The Rise Stable, are back at Meydan with a runner of their own in the UAE Derby, a strapping grey colt Pandagate, who is ironically a son of the sadly departed Arrogate.

“The horse seems to be doing great,” said Cutair, “He worked on Tuesday and worked very well. We had him at the gates two days ago and he seemed to do that well. He's a big horse and the gates are smaller here, so that's something we want to make sure goes well. He's going to have to step up to compete with these kinds of horses, but he couldn't be doing better.”

Pandagate enters the Derby with two wins from three tries, including a five and a half length success in the Gander Stakes (1600m) - restricted to horses bred in the state of New York - at Aqueduct late last month. Cutair believes that the extra 300 metres of Saturday's contest will suit Pandagate right down to the ground.

“(Trainer) Christophe (Clement) has always thought this is the kind of horse that wants to go as far as he can go,” Cutair said, “I'm sure that was part of the calculus in the decision to come here, being [one of the] longest possible options. He's got a massive stride length and should enjoy the distance.”

For his part, Cutair is not looking past the Derby, which offers valuable points towards a berth in the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May.

“Honestly, the Gander was the medium-term goal, with him being a New York-bred,” Cutair said. “That was the only thing we were really pointing to, but once he did that so impressively, this race got exciting.

"The fact that there is such a headline horse here in Forever Young kind of takes the pressure off, but he's a nice horse and you can see him getting better as he goes. He deserves a shot.”

The Rest Of The Field

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has entered the pair of Henry Adams and Navy Seal. The former, a son of No Nay Never, won a Group 3 at Leopardstown and finished fourth in two Group 1 races last year. Henry Adams will be ridden by Ryan Moore. Navy Seal, the son of Dubawi, has won one of five lifetime starts but has a start under his belt this season.

Trainer Bhupat Seemar runs three, headed by UAE 2000 Guineas winner Mendelssohn Bay, on whom Pat Cosgrave has retained the ride. The Fasig-Tipton graduate missed the Al Bastakiya prep by design, which his trainer is confident was the right decision.

“He’s changed; filled out and has a good coat on him,” said the former UAE Champion Trainer. “He did his gallop last week very easily, over seven furlongs [1400metres], came back and wasn’t really blowing at all. He’s by Mendelssohn out of a Curlin mare, so he’s got plenty of stamina on his side. We don’t know how good he is but we’ll find out on Saturday.”

Seemar also runs Guns And Glory – a wide-margin 3-year-old Conditions race winner last time out. 

“He’s had some terrible draws and then finally got a good one, when we put blinkers on him,” he says of the 12-length success on March 8th. “He’s a very nice horse but he is a bit of a playboy and unfortunately Jennifer [Ferguson, Work Rider] got injured riding him the day before his win, but she’s been very high on him and the blinkers should do the trick again.”

Trainer Julio Olascoaga has enjoyed an excellent season in Dubai and runs three; Auto Bahn, Oasis Boy and Uruguayan Group 1 runner-up Rock Walk.

“Auto Bahn has done really well this year and always surprises us,” he said of the narrow second in the Listed Al Bastakiya. “He looks fitter now after his last run and has improved with every run.

“Oasis Boy, we were expecting a lot better from him in the Saudi Derby but the track and the trip didn't suit. We gave him some time to recover and he is in much better shape now.

“As for Rock Walk, he came from Uruguay earlier this year where he finished second to Triple Crown winner Ever Daddy in his last run. That is one of only two Group 1 races in Uruguay and was over a mile and a half. He has had a tough season already but has a lot of ability and I think he can run well.”​​