There is one horse who has the racing world buzzing Dubai World Cup week and he is not from any of the Japanese, American, or European powerhouse operations that have come to dominate. He is from Kazakhstan.
Step forward Kabirkhan, the giant 4-year-old chestnut who was Kazakhstan's champion 2-year-old and whose only defeat in 11 starts came in the Russian Derby back in September.
Since then he has switched to the yard of eight-time UAE champion trainer Doug Watson, avenged that defeat to Hero Mo by smashing the same horse on his Meydan debut and became a group 1 winner, Watson's first, when claiming the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) by 4 3/4 lengths—a 'win and you're in' race for the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1).
Kabirkhan has emerged from obscurity to become a prime contender for a World Cup that features last year's winner Ushba Tesoro, the 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) runner-up Derma Sotogake, Saudi Cup (G1) winner Senor Buscador, and Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner Newgate, who represents the Bob Baffert and Frankie Dettori combination.
ITV might not be showing the race, but they will be watching in Kazakhstan, and Watson very much feels he is carrying the racing hopes of a nation.
"It's been great," said Watson. "They're bringing 100 people this time and he's very popular at home. It's kind of a country pride thing, he's not just running to win for ourselves and the owner, it's the whole country cheering him on. It's neat, and a bit nerve-wracking at the same time."
The son of California Chrome , himself a Dubai World Cup winner and runner-up, Kabirkhan was picked up by his Kazakh connections for $12,000 at the end of Book 5 of the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Bred in Kentucky by Kehner Thoroughbreds, Kabirkhan was consigned by Mulholland Springs.
He races in the light blue and yellow silks of Tlek Mukanbetkaliyev, which deliberately mirror the colors of his national flag, and he now has a pop song in his honor in Kazakhstan.
"I didn't know anything about him until we saw him at quarantine," said Watson. "He was champion 2-year-old there, he's 17 hands, I don't know how he was champion 2-year-old anywhere. Then he went to Russia and won really nicely in a few races.
"Kabirkhan's work is electric in the morning, we work more on trying to slow him down than speed him up. He did it so well first up and (after that) it was the first time they've had a $1 million race over here outside of World Cup night for Thoroughbreds so we decided to go back. It was only two weeks later but I think he ran even better the next time. After that we got a little excited but we decided to wait two months and run him back in the World Cup."
On his build-up, Watson said: "He's had a great preparation, we've one more day of training to go so I'm knocking my desk (touching wood) but he's in great order and put on some nice muscle. He's turned inside out since that run because we had to push him a little bit to get to his first race and then we went again, so the break has set him up nicely and we're hoping he gets a clean trip. It's a tough race, it's kind of a who's who of dirt racing right now, but we think he can go right there.
"He has to step up his game a little bit, but we think he will. Whether that's good enough to win I don't know, but I really wouldn't trade him for anyone else. He's young, progressive and it's the first time we've had one in there going over thinking 'he just might have a chance,' so it's nice."
On his big-race partner Pat Dobbs, Watson added: "Pat's been with me for many years and it's great for both of us to have one in there we think has a chance. We just want to see him run a really nice race and give the owners a bit of a thrill. He's going in with confidence and so are we."
