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| Staff Writer |
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There is a horse that loves racing on dirt, currently with a four-race winning streak on the surface. That horse is the Japanese wonder Ushuba Tesoro.
The son of legendary Japanese stallion, Orfevre, won the Listed Brazil Cup and Gr.1 Tokyo Daishoten last year in his 5YO season. This year, debuting in his 6YO season he has started once for one victory in the Listed Kawasaki Kinen winning by half a length in front of T O Keynes.
That win was at the start of February as his trainer Noboru Takagi now prepares him to race in Dubai. He commented on how his horse had progressed following the victory in his last start.
“So far he has remained in good condition even after the last run.
A Horse Of Many Talents
With his career beginning on turf, Takagi said that it was a quick observation that the horse relished dirt running also.
“When he was a 3YO he was aiming for the Classic races so he ran on the turf.
“However, from that time on I wanted to run him in dirt races. So I put him in the dirt races last spring and he showed great dirt aptitude.”
Ushba Tesoro is yet to race outside of his native Japan but Takagi said that it was something they had to try and he was confident the dirt tracks of Dubai would be of favour to his horse.
A Difference In Dirt
“The dirt in Dubai seems to be completely different from Japan, so I won't know unless he tries it.
“However, he doesn't care about kickbacks and in the boxes so I think that's one of his strengths.”
Kazuo Yokoyama usually partners the Orfevre x Milefeui Attach entire in the saddle and has done so for his past two victories, however as Takagi said things had to change and a jockey switch was required heading into Dubai.
“He (Kazuo Yokoyama) is used to riding him but he has to ride the Title Holder in Japan.”
The new jockey on board Ushba Tesoro is one of Japan’s leading jockeys in fourth generation jockey and a recent participant in the Saudi International Jockey Challenge in Yuga Kawada, Takagi is confident in the hoop.
“I haven't talked to Kawada about the details yet but I'm thinking of getting him to ride once in training after arriving in Dubai.”
Meydan On The Agenda
The trainer’s plan becomes even more positive when looking at the Meydan racecourse and the fact it is an anti-clockwise set-up, adding to the hopes for the horse.
“I can't tell the difference in dirt quality between Dubai and Japan. But he's never lost on a dirt anti-clockwise course.
“I think that is one of his strengths.”
Although it is the first time that the horse will be racing outside Japan let alone Dubai, his trainer Takagi does have a connection to the region.
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A Life Changing Peep Into Dubai
Early on in his career, he studied in England with a scholarship and following his studies he was able to stop over in the UAE, which led to a lifelong inspiration.
“I studied at Newmarket in England for three months.
“The day before our training ended and we were to return to Japan the organizer suddenly asked us to stop by Dubai.
“While I was in training, I was allowed to stop over in Dubai.
“There was no horse racing at that time, but I remember being allowed to see the race course and Lammtarra.
“In order to repay HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for that time, I would like to challenge myself this time while I am there.”