All about targets for Arrogate

Arrogate during a training session on Thursday at the Meydan Racecourse.

Arrogate might be the envy and the target of 13 other horses that will be vying for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on Saturday night, but the Breeders' Cup Classic and Pegasus World Cup champion, is himself seeking a target, according to his trainer Bob Baffert.
"He likes to run with a target in front of him and I'm sure Mike Smith (jockey) will place him well as the race goes on. He's not going to be far off whether on the pace or off the pace," Baffert said at the Meydan Racecourse on Thursday morning.

Comparing Arrogate to Silver Charm, his first horse to win in 1998, he felt it's not the same when he brought Silver Charm here. "He was the first Kentucky Derby winner. I remember when he turned for home halfway down, I thought he probably is not gonna win, he's going to finish fourth or fifth but all of a sudden he put up a surge and went on to win," he said.
"But that's the way Silver Charm was. He wanted competition. Arrogate is a different kind of horse with long strides, with incredible talent and as long as he gets a free run position and, Mike Smith, he knows the horse really well he will just play the waiting game and see how much horse he has under him," added Baffert.
Baffert, who also steered Captain Steve to victory in 2001, said it's tough being the favourite.
"When you are expected to win, it's tough when you have these horses as it's added pressure even on the jockey. Sometimes it's more fun to win when your 5/1 when you come in and sneak up," Baffert said.
"Like, when we ran in the Breeders Cup, we snuck up on California Chrome. It's enjoyable when you do that but when you reach this level, and you win, your relieved that everything went well. My job is to ensure that everything goes smooth so basically it's a challenge," he elaborated.
Baffert refused to take credit for victories. "I didn't win the race, the horse did, so I don't make any equations here," he said.
Comparing a trainer to a parent, Baffert said: "A trainer is as good as a parent. You watch your kid, make sure you prepared him and if you think he's not prepared which means something has gone wrong in the preparation," he added.
clareto@khaleejtimes.com