'I can't believe he won' - Bob Baffert in awe of World Cup hero Arrogate

Odds-on favourite Arrogate produced a spectacular performance to win the Dubai World Cup as he overcame a slow break and unpromising position to power to glory at Meydan.The Breeders' Cup Classic and Pegasus World Cup Invitational winner was squeezed out at the start and was immediately on the back foot.At one stage he must have been some 20 lengths behind the leader, but jockey Mike Smith did not panic and, going down the back straight, worked his way into the race.Rounding the turn for home he was making up many lengths, although Gun Runner appeared to have stolen a march.But in a display befitting of the world's highest-rated horse, Arrogate found another gear and bounded clear to give Baffert a third win in the 10-furlong showpiece after Silver Charm (1998) and Captain Steve (2001).Baffert said: "When he missed the break, I gave him no chance at all."I was so mad at myself thinking I shouldn't have brought him - that's the greatest horse I've ever seen run, it's unbelievable, I can't believe he won. That is a great horse."Mike did a great job, he didn't panic."When he turned for home I said 'If he wins he's the greatest since Secretariat'."He went on: "I can't believe we won that race. On the turn for home from being last early on he used that tremendous long stride and he gobbled up the ground."The whole crowd breathed a big sigh when it looked that he had so much to do and I felt, 'wow, we've no chance'."I have to admit, I have my heart doctor here and for a few moments I was on red alert. If anyone in racing wasn't super impressed with that, well they must be seriously missing something."Sitting back there, Mike let the big kid gather himself and as soon as he saw them in front of him he picked up in an amazing way."I got very emotional as it was like a Hollywood-style finish."I think we now need to sit back with Prince Khalid (Abdullah, owner) and give this horse a nice break because the Breeders' Cup Classic is the one to win." RaceBets cut Arrogate to 4-6 from 5-4 to successfully defend his Breeders' Cup Classic crown at Del Mar later this year. Smith said: "When I missed the break I immediately thought of Zenyatta. I thought 'I've got so much confidence in this horse I'm going to ride him like Zenyatta' and it paid off. "I missed the break completely because he's used to having a man in the gate with him, but things happen for a reason and thank the Lord we got the job done."This horse can do anything, he can win in the lead, he can come from dead last, he hasn't even taken a breath."I get a lot of the glory, but there's a big team who deserve a lot of credit."Florent Geroux, rider of Gun Runner, said: "I was travelling as well as I could have hoped turning in and thought we had a great chance of victory until Arrogate arrived and he was just awesome."Johnny Velazquez, who rode the third Neolithic, said: "I think it was a good race and we have run into a champion, but he ran super and was doing his best work at the finish."Christophe Soumillon said of fourth home Mubtaahij: "Every time he runs he gives you his all and that was the same today.I got a good sit on him from a poor draw and he ran his heart out." His trainer Mike De Kock said: "It was a super-human effort to get over from stall 14 and you can rely on him with the accuracy of a Swiss watch."If he comes out of this OK I'm very keen to take him to Hong Kong and have a crack at the QEII Cup."