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| Sumita Pawar |
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The prestigious US$12 million Gr.1 Dubai World Cup will unfold at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates tomorrow. This renowned race is open to 4YOs and older horses, spanning a challenging 1 ¼ miles on dirt. usracing.com is diligently presenting profiles of the contenders, shedding light on their potential in the grand event.
Initially acquired with the explicit aim of enriching Riyadh's racing scene, the 6YO Defunded faced disappointment in his debut outing in Saudi Arabia, finishing a lackluster seventh in the world's most lucrative horse race.
Despite several winners of the Saudi Cup embarking on their first race of the year, Defunded took an extreme hiatus, competing for the first time since September 30th, when he secured second place in the Awesome Again race under the tutelage of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. This significant gap may have played a role in his lackluster performance, as he faltered early on and failed to pose a significant threat throughout the race.
Nevertheless, his outing secured him US$500,000, surpassing his earnings from the 2020, 2021, and 2022 seasons combined. His most prosperous year came at the age of 5, boasting a record of 2-2-1 from seven starts, accumulating $1,058,500 in winnings. Notably, between October 1, 2022, and 29th May, 2023, he achieved notable victories in events such as the Awesome Again and Hollywood Gold Cup, alongside a commendable second place in the Pegasus World Cup and a third place in the Santa Anita Handicap, all esteemed Grade One competitions.
Among his subsequent losses, Defunded's standout performance occurred when he clinched second place in the 2023 Awesome Again race, trailing Slow Down Andy by a margin of 2 ½ lengths but finishing ahead of Senor Buscador, who later claimed victory in the Saudi Cup.
Defunded is one of two former Baffert runners slated for the World Cup, alongside Laurel River. His seventh-place finish in the Saudi Cup mirrored his previous lackluster outing, where he finished seventh in the 2022 San Diego Handicap, trailing winner Royal Ship by 8½ lengths but leading Senor Buscador by 1 ½ lengths.
His last appearance stateside was in September, where he narrowly missed defending his title in the Awesome Again race before being sold to Dr. Muhaideb Abdullah A Almuhaideb. Noteworthy achievements include his triumph in the 2023 Hollywood Gold Cup, alongside notable placements such as second in 2022, third in the 2023 Santa Anita Handicap, and sixth in the 2023 Pacific Classic, all prestigious Group One events.