Mubtaahij all set to travel east

Mike de Kock has entered Dubai World Cup fourth Mubtaahij in the Audemars Piguet HK$20-million QEII Cup over 2000m at Sha Tin on April 30.

De Kock won the race with Irridescence in 2006 and Archipenko in 2008.

Should five-year-old Mubtaahij, who finished second to California Chrome in the Meydan showpiece last year, go to Hong Kong for the R33.34-million race, he will be taking on three past winners of the race, including Werther, who was impressive last year.

Fifty-one horses have been entered, with Hong Kong also represented by Designs On Rome (QEII Cup winner in 2014) and Blazing Speed (2015 winner), while Werther’s stablemate Rapper Dragon, the first horse to complete a clean sweep of Hong Kong’s Four-Year-Old Classic Series could be put to the test in this International Group 1 race.

Japan struck gold twice at December’s Hong Kong International Races and could play a big role again, with last year’s Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) winner Satono Crown prominent in the entries.

Also engaged is Group 1 Dubai Turf (1800m) winner Real Steel, 2015 QEII Cup runner-up Staphanos and Group 2 winners Neorealism, Yamakatsu Ace and Admire Deus.

Australia also has a number of horses entered, including Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner Jameka and Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) victor Hartnell.

Hartnell is owned by Godolphin, who has another entry in the form of Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) winner Hauraki.

The United States, winner of the 2016 Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and 2016 Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) winner Tavago are also nominated.

Group 1 Arlington Million (2000m) winner Mondialiste heads up the European contingent that also has two Ballydoyle big guns, three-time Group 1 scorer Alice Springs and Group 1 Belmont Derby (2000m) winner Deauville.