The Saudi Cup Trackwork News - Wednesday 19 Feb

Wednesday 19 February, 2025 :

- Honour for Takagi as Tesoro team takes Saudi Cup trip -

- Two key Japanese contenders in green and yellow silks this weekend

Noboru Takagi’s pair for the US$20m Saudi Cup have a busy few weeks ahead of them.

Ushba Tesoro (JPN), the 8-year-old horse, was runner-up in the main event 12 months ago and is also seeking to reclaim the Dubai World Cup title he won in 2023.

His younger stablemate Wilson Tesoro (JPN), likewise owned by Ryotokuji Kenji, will be following him around the region. The 6-year-old claimed victory in the JBC Classic on the dirt last November and was second to a further Japanese challenger, Forever Young (JPN), while Ushba Tesoro was fourth, in their warm-up start in the Tokyo Daishoten.

Their campaign begins on Saturday and they breezed for 1000m at the same time over the dirt track at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Wednesday.

“Both of them have done almost what they have needed before they came here, so I asked the jockeys to get a feeling of the horses today,” Takagi said.

“Wilson Tesoro keeps good condition. Ushba Tesoro has been training well, he is not as enthusiastic as before, but he has sharpened up from today’s gallop.

“It is an extreme honour to be able to join the field in this top-class race on the global stage. My hopes are really high for both horses. I am looking forward to their performances on Saturday.”

- Cylone forecast as Summers aims for Derby dream

- Improving 3-year-old faces strong local and Japanese opposition

Chad Summers is reaching the pivotal stage of a long-term plan with Cyclone State (USA) as he counts down the days to the US$1.5m Saudi Derby presented by ZOOD Realty.

The US-based trainer put his improving son of McKinzie through some gate schooling practice on Wednesday after routine exercise on the dirt track.

“The best thing about this horse so far is that everything that we’ve wanted since he won the Jerome Stakes on January 4 has gone according to plan. We’ve got a few more days to go, so hoping for the best,” Summers said.

“He had his last piece of work on Monday, it’s a long stretch here in Saudi Arabia so I just wanted him to know where the winning line is. We get to learn about the racetrack. It’s a little deep right now and hopefully it’ll keep getting a bit quicker.”

Summers is a regular visitor to the Middle East and knew the perfect target for Cyclone State.

“I ran into Emer Fallon [JCSA Director of International Racing] at the Breeders’ Cup. When she asked when I was going to send something back over here I said I had just the horse, although you might think I’m crazy as he’s still a maiden.

“Cyclone State has won three races in a row since that conversation and it’s always been in the back of our minds. This racetrack is tailormade to his ability, obviously it’s a strong field with the local contingent and you add in the Japanese that are always strong in the race.”

Summers also noted the path of last year’s winner from Japan, Forever Young (JPN), bound for The Saudi Cup, who was subsequently a very close third in the Kentucky Derby.

“We’re coming in off a points race in the Kentucky Derby, obviously the Kentucky means a lot to a lot of people, my owners included, but they trust me and we felt like this was the path we wanted to take,” Summers said.

“If we can be fortunate enough to be invited to the UAE Derby and qualify, it worked out well for Forever Young.”

- Romantic Warrior "very fit" ahead of Saudi Cup date

- Hong Kong champion took it steady on Wednesday

One day after a having his final piece of serious work towards the US$20m Saudi Cup, the world’s highest-earning horse, Peter Lau’s Romantic Warrior (IRE), had an easy day of it on the King Abdulaziz Racecourse dirt track.

Trainer Danny Shum was pleased with the Tuesday blowout, which took place with regular jockey James McDonald in the irons, while 24 hours later he hacked an easy circuit before returning to his base in the quarantine area.

“He’s a talented horse” said Shum. “He loves it here and has settled well. We’ll just keep him cantering up to the race, sitting behind [travelling stablemate] Romantic Charm. He’s done enough. He’s very fit for The Saudi Cup.”

- Gosdens’ Gregory ready for his first challenge abroad

- Firm supporters of The Saudi Cup meeting hoping for success in Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap

Thady and John Gosden saddled Trawlerman to finish eighth in the US$2.5m Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap in 2023 and are now hoping that 5-year-old Gregory (GB) can do better this year.

Gregory, who runs in the colours of Wathnan Racing, didn’t get his name on the board in 2024, but Thady Gosden is confident that, as a son of Golden Horn, he will feel at home at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

“He has travelled over very well," Gosden said. “He had a smooth flight directly from [London] Stansted into Riyadh. He is a bit of an old pro, he is quite laid back about life and is taking everything in his stride.”

Gregory was out on the dirt track on Wednesday to stretch his legs.

“He came to the main track this morning, which is riding beautifully and the temperature is perfect,” Gosden confirmed.

“He seemed to enjoy himself and is moving well. It is possible that he will go on the grass tomorrow, but the main dirt track here is so good, it is hard to tempt yourself away from it, but of course, he is running on the turf. He is by Golden Horn, who generally enjoy top of the ground.

“We have been here since the first meeting and every year since. It’s fantastic and it continues to improve as you would expect it to, there is a great buzz around the place.”

- Insole taking to the stand with first international contender

- British-based trainer happy with new sales recruit

Young trainer Jamie Insole finds himself in a new position as he prepares to unleash Witness Stand (GB) for the first time under his name in the US$2m 1351 Turf Sprint presented by Boutique Group.

Insole has been a joint licence holder with Dr Richard Newland at a stable in the United Kingdom for the last 18 months, overseeing the Flat string at an operation which also has a large book of National Hunt horses.

Formerly assistant to Charlie Hills, Insole bought Witness Stand from the Tattersalls sales last October after he had a strong season running largely over 1400m with Tom Clover.

He watched his first international runner stretch his legs in the 9am shift on the turf track on Wednesday.

“We wanted to get him out on the grass so he could get used to it and Lloyd [Applegate], his rider, said he enjoyed it,” Insole said.

“He cantered for about 1000m and then breezed him over the last 400m. He’s ready, so he’ll just go on the dirt for the rest of the week.”

Insole is stepping the 4-year-old very slightly down in distance in a fascinating, truly international affair.

“It’s quite surreal; I’ve been to races like the Breeders’ Cup and the Dubai World Cup as an assistant but now I’m here as a trainer,” he said.

“He’s a new horse for us, so it’s quite different as you’re still learning about him, how he adapts and even how he’ll be on raceday.

“We thought this would be a race that suits him, the only thing is that they are sure to go really hard and so it will be important to get the tactics right.”