Mike De Kock will wait until the end of the month to give Mubtaahij a prep run before the most valuable night in racing (Dubai World Cup, March 25).

Mubtaahij was being lined up for his seasonal debut in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes on February 11, but the leading international trainer wants to give last year’s World Cup runner-up more time.

The five-year-old son of Dubawi, who was a brilliant winner of the 2015 UAE Derby, has not raced since he was fourth behind Bob Baffert’s Hoppertunity in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes at Belmont Park in America in October.

Mubtaahij (Liesl King)

“He’s training well but I am not convinced that he is ready for it,” De Kock said. “The Listed Curlin Handicap is the plan.”

As the name of the February 23 contest suggests, the 2000-metre Listed handicap was won by Curlin en route to his stunning World Cup win in 2008. The race was also used last season by California Chrome as a stepping stone to his impressive victory in the $10 million race.

Mubtaahij was moved to Kiaran McLaughlin’s stables in America after chasing California Chrome home in the World Cup in March and ran there three times.

“He had a rest in America and a bit of a break here as he was on the go a lot in America — he needed it,” De Kock said.

“He only needs one run before the Dubai World Cup.”

The participation of Breeders’ Cup and Pegasus World Cup winner Arrogate at Meydan still hangs in the balance.

Arrogate returned to Santa Anita from his Gulfstream Park heroics last week on Sunday and was out training on Thursday.

When asked where the Juddmonte-owned colt might race next the trainer said: “We have no plans yet. We have a lot of options but we are going to see. We’ve got a lot of options but we are going to give him a couple of weeks to see how he’s doing before we decide.

“I haven’t really mapped out a schedule for him, although it looks like the race didn’t take a lot out of him. He looks good.”

TheNational.ae