Dubai World Cup: Arrogate's remarkable journey

Arrogate rallied from last place after a delay out of the stalls to clinch the Dubai World Cup at Meydan

By Web Team

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Published: Sun 26 Mar 2017, 1:11 PM

Last updated: Mon 9 Oct 2023, 8:07 AM

American Thoroughbred racehorse Arrogate gave his owners another crown by winning the $10m Dubai World Cup. It has been a remarkable journey for this grey colt, who will turn four on April 11. Arrogate finished third in his first race when he was three-year-old.

Then his winning streak started and Saturday's Dubai World Cup win has undoubtedly proved that he is the best horse on dirt, perhaps on any surface. Not only his win but the manner in which he achieved that was incredible.


Off the ninth gate, Arrogate was the last then he squeezed between horses but emerged at the back of the top. He was barely galloping as the field in front of him raced away. For most of the mile-and-a-quarter race, he looked like a horse without a chance and then he picked speed act with barely 200 meters to go and won with two and half furlong lead.

Earlier, he had won the Travers Stakes in 2016 with a track record. He then went on to win the Breeders' Cup Classic and was named the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse and World's Best Racehorse of 2016.


To start his four-year-campaign, he won the 2017 Pegasus World Cup in a new track record. Despite having only four stakes race wins to his name, he is now the leading money earner in North America of all-time.

Arrogate overcomes bad start to win $10m Dubai World Cup

Arrogate is bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farms. As a yearling, the colt was consigned to the Keeneland September sale and was bought for $560,000 by Juddmonte Farms, the racing operation of Saudi Prince Khalid bin Abdullah. Arrogate was sent into training with Bob Baffert in California. Arrogate's front teeth were knocked back as a yearling, probably after being kicked by another horse. One tooth became infected and was removed, which slows down his eating but otherwise has no impact.

Highlights of the Dubai World Cup 2017

Arrogate was sired by the Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Unbridled's Song, whose other major winners have included Will Take Charge, the sprinter Zensational and Breeders' Cup winners Unrivaled Belle and Unbridled Elaine. Arrogate's dam Bubbler was a successful racemare who won six of her nine races.


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