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| Staff Writer |
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A crowd favourite at Meydan, Kabirkhan, the 4YO son of California Chrome is set to train with multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer, Brad Cox. The US$12,000 Keeneland purchase won the US$1 million Gr.1 Al Maktoum Challenge with a 4 3/4-length victory and his Meydan debut, the 2000m Island handicap with ease, delivering exceptional results for UAE-based trainer, Doug Watson.
"He's just a really nice horse," Watson after the Challenge win. "We had him working at home and before we ran him two weeks ago, we knew he was good but we didn't know if he could compete in the races over here on this track ... It's not easy to come back in two weeks and run quite like he did there—real nice time and to do it so nicely and easily in the end."
Tlek Mukanbetkaliyev owned colt, began his racing career in Kazakhstan and later achieved success in Russia. Despite securing eight consecutive wins, his total earnings for those victories were less than US$35,000. Nonetheless, these races held significant importance in their respective countries, ultimately paving the way for Kabirkhan to compete on a larger stage.
Unfortunately, he finished eighth behind another Bhupat Seemar-trained Laurel River in the Gr.1 US$12 million Dubai World Cup. The goal to emulate the 2016 Dubai World Cup triumph of his dual classic-winning sire, California Chrome, did not come to fruition.
Having won 10 of his 12 starts, he is the top earner for his sire with US$815,436. Additionally, he is the first Grade 1 winner for California Chrome, who was honoured as Horse of the Year in 2014 and 2016. California Chrome is currently standing at Japan's Arrow Stud.
Since arriving at Churchill Downs, Kabirkhan has been engaging in daily gallops. Cox informed the Churchill Downs media that he plans to carefully ease Kabirkhan into his racing schedule before determining his first start.
"We're just starting to get to know him and how he moves," Cox said. "We'll get to know him a bit more then start to get a couple works under him before we make any plans."