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Mubtaahij sights fixed on Belmont

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - MARCH 28:  Mubtaahij ridden by Christophe Soumillon wins the UAE Derby during the Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse on
Image: Mubtaahij: Heading for the Belmont

Mubtaahij will stay in America to tackle the Belmont Stakes on June 6, trainer Mike de Kock has confirmed.

The Dubawi colt, winner of the UAE Derby, broke new ground for his South African handler when finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Beaten nine and a half lengths by American Pharoah, Mubtaahij will now go for the final leg of the Triple Crown which is contested over 12 furlongs, skipping the middle contest in the nine-and-a-half-furlong Preakness on Saturday week.

The trainer told ww.mikedekockracing.com: "Going for the Preakness with Mubtaahij will be hard.

"He will be up against the first three past the post in the Derby, the race is two weeks away and is run over 100m shorter than the Derby.

"The Belmont Stakes suits us best. Mubtaahij will see out the 2400m and we have more than a month to prepare him.

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"Mubtaahij will be more settled and he'll be better for it, he'll come on from his Derby run."

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