Kiaran McLaughlin is brimming with optimism as the G1 Dubai World Cup approaches, confident that Godolphin's Frosted can run the race of his life in the world's richest race at Meydan on March 26.
Kiaran McLaughlin is brimming with optimism as the G1 Dubai World Cup approaches, confident that Godolphin's Frosted can run the race of his life in the world's richest race at Meydan on March 26.
Frosted impressed in his first run in Dubai when landing the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge (Round 2), over 1,900m (9 and 1/2 furlongs) on February 4, in record time. And, according to the Godolphin trainer, he has been thriving ever since.
"He has never been better," McLaughlin said. "We thought prior to the Al Maktoum Challenge that he would come on for the run. The fact is, he broke the track record that first night, and yes, he HAS come on.
"Let me assure anybody who wants to know: Frosted is ready," he declared. "He will have his last serious workout on March 16, over five-eighths or a half-mile, leaving 10 days to the World Cup, which is perfect," he added.
Frosted has clocked good times at Marmoom, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed's private training complex on the outskirts of Dubai. He recorded 1min 12.4secs for a six furlong gallop, and more recently, he went five furlongs in 60.1secs. The trainer was delighted.
William Buick rode Frosted for the first time in the horse's Dubai debut, and horse and jockey seemed to strike up an immediate rapport. "I'm very happy having William on board. They get on well together," McLaughlin said.
"For me, the Dubai World Cup will be all about how the race unfolds. The draw is important - I'd prefer the inside, we know he handles dirt - but it's about the shape of the race," he explained.
"I thought California Chrome would have shown more pace (when winning a handicap, first up, at Meydan)," he commented.
The spacing of Frosted's races has been a topic for discussion among form-followers, and McLaughlin admits the horse's reaction to the gaps between runs has been a revelation.
"We thought he went well when his races were close together. He won the G2 Pennsylvania Derby only three weeks after a hard run in the Travers. But, then we see him having three months off after the Breeders' Cup and coming to Meydan and breaking a track record.
"Off such a long break, he has come back to run HUGE," he added.
McLaughlin was happy to have dodged the stormy weather that hit the Gulf last week. "We moved Frosted's gallop forward a day, from Wednesday to Tuesday, and beat the weather. We got lucky," he said.
The trainer and his family plan to be back in Dubai at the start of World Cup week. "When I was here for Frosted's first run in Dubai, it was the first time I had been to Meydan since its completion.
"It was fabulous to go back. It is an unbelievable place, fantastic facilities. It takes your breath away. I lived and worked in Dubai for 10 years, back in the 1990s. It is now very different, very impressive.
Everything about the place is top of the line," he added.
