Unfurling a storybook last to first run, Ushba Tesoro upset more fancied rivals in the $12 million Dubai World Cup, annexing the third prize on the nine-race program for Japan and continuing that nation’s plundering of racing’s most esteemed trophies around the globe.
Steered by Japanese champion jockey Yuga Kawada, Ushba Tesoro took his time getting into rhythm, dawdling at least a dozen lengths behind fellow Japanese runner and pacesetter Panthalassa, winner of the Saudi Cup last month, and others in the field of 15 contesting the Group 1 contest over 2000m.
Yet when Kawada said “go” and swung his mount six-wide turning into the stretch, Ushba Tesoro virtually flew over the ground, passing rivals including the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Algiers, who briefly looked an easy winner, as if they had downshifted to slow motion.
A strapping chestnut son of Japanese Triple Crown winner Orfevre, and thus a grandson of 2001 Dubai Sheema Classic victor Stay Gold, Ushba Tesoro crossed the finish line 2 3/4 lengths in front of Algiers, with 2022 Saudi Cup winner Emblem Road a short head back in third.
Another Japanese runner, T O Keynes, the 2021 dirt champion in his homeland, also rallied well to be fourth, and yet another of the eight Japanese runners in the field, 2022 UAE Derby champion Crown Pride, was fifth.
Meanwhile, Panthalassa tired from his early efforts and returned home 10 th . Country Grammer, winner of last year’s Dubai World Cup, took some ungainly steps out of his 14 th post in the starting gate and then had to be rushed by jockey Frankie Dettori to gain position but was unable to make much of an impact while traveling wide throughout.
Although not a household name, at least not outside Japan, Ushba Tesoro entered the Dubai World Cup with a sneaky good record of four consecutive wins on dirt at or near the 2000m distance, including the Group 1 Tokyo Daishoten on December 29 for owner Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings Co. Ltd.
Yet even his connections seemed somewhat dazed by the power of his win, with trainer Noboru Takagi conceding that he didn’t feel Ushba Tesoro would win until the final 100m of the race.
“It’s an amazing feeling to win a race like this,” Takagi exclaimed, adding that he and the owner would have to put their heads together to decide what targets would be next. A jubilant Kawada declared from the saddle: “I’m very honored to be here. It’s very amazing, and I’m so proud of him. Thank you, Dubai.”
Ushba Tesoro’s time was 2:03.25, well off Thunder Snow’s record of 2:01.38 set in 2018, but faster than Country Grammer ran the race in 2022. After collecting the winner’s prize of $6.96 million, Ushba Tesoro now has earnings of $9,272,019 and has won nine of 29 career starts.
His victory marked the second Dubai World Cup win for Japan following Victorie Pisa’s landmark run in 2011 when Meydan had an all-weather track.
Other Japanese winners on this year’s Dubai World Cup program were Derma Sotogake in the UAE Derby and Equinox in the Dubai Sheema Classic.
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