Thursday's G3 Firebreak S. marks the return of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum's Mubtaahij (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), one of the most eye-catching winners on last year's Dubai World Cup card when taking the G2 UAE Derby by eight lengths. That facile victory prompted a trip to America for the GI Kentucky Derby, where the colt ran a respectable eighth behind American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) before finishing fourth behind that Triple Crown winner in the GI Belmont S. when last seen June 6. Mubtaahij enjoyed a holiday in England the second part of 2015, and trainer Mike de Kock said he is ready for a return to competition.
“He has been working nicely and this was always the plan for his comeback,” said De Kock. “He has thrived for his break and we are really looking forward to getting him back on the track. Hopefully, he is our Dubai World Cup horse this year.”
While Mubtaahij is proven over the track, the likes of Le Bernardin (Bernardini) and One Man Band (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) are unlikely to give him an easy time of things. Both of those are unbeaten this year, with Le Bernardin having taken the course-and-distance GI Al Maktoum Challenge R1 Jan. 7 and One Man Band the winner of a 1900 meter handicap on the same card–his third straight win over the track.
Kiaran McLaughlin saddles two here: Confrontation (War Pass) and Watershed (Bernardini). Confrontation makes his first start for McLaughlin and although not seen since June, he was tangling with some big names in America last summer. The 6-year-old finished second to multiple Grade I winner Tonalist (Tapit) in last May's G3 Westchester S. and filled the same position behind eventual GI Woodward H. and GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile victor Liam's Map (Unbridled's Song) in a one-mile Belmont allowance when last seen June 19. 'TDN Rising Star' Watershed has raced just four times and was the winner of a Saratoga maiden and a Keeneland allowance last year. He was fourth in the GI King's Bishop S. in just his second start and fifth when last seen in the GI Malibu S. over seven furlongs Dec. 26.
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