Mike Smith believes that Arrogate will take the trip to Dubai in his long raking stride, after Bob Baffert revealed that the world’s best racehorse was confirmed for next month’s Dubai World Cup.
Arrogate, who has not raced since his imperious victory in the Pegasus World Cup on January 28, will make his first foray out of America to take part in Meydan’s $10 million (Dh36.73m) event on March 25, and reportedly could even leave Baffert’s base in California as early as March 13.
Smith is looking forward to his first ride on the Meydan dirt, having not ridden at the UAE’s principal track since he partnered the recently deceased Royal Delta to a disappointing 12th behind Animal Kingdom in 2013 on the Tapeta surface.
Although Smith has no direct experience of the Meydan dirt surface, which is almost three seasons old, he claims to have watched almost every World Cup Carnival fixture this campaign.
"He can handle the travel," Smith told The National by telephone of his Breeders’ Cup-winning partner. "For the Travers Stakes he went from Santa Anita to Saratoga, where the dirt is heavier than at home, and it didn’t bother him.
"And it certainly didn’t bother him at Gulfstream for the Pegasus. He does not need to take his track with him."

Source: The National