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| Staff Writer |
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Ushba Tesoro, who won the prestigious Group One Dubai World Cup, is scheduled to participate in the Nippon TV Hai (NAR Funabashi) on Wednesday. The local Group Two, dirt 1800m race will serve as preparation for his upcoming Breeders Cup Classic title challenge.
Noboru Takagi's 6YO son of Orfevre has returned to the trainer's yard after a long break following his exceptional performance at Meydan Racecourse in March. According to sources, the horse's appetite for success has remained unchanged. Takagi is eager to give him a prep race before he heads to the United States for the highly anticipated Breeders' Cup World Series. Takagi is confident that Ushba Tesoro's form will improve significantly after his outing at Funabashi. Regardless of the outcome, he will board the flight to the US.
Shahryar, a 5YO Deep Impact and another Dubai World Cup night winner, is also targeting the Breeders' Cup. The horse won the 2021 Japanese Derby and the 2022 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic. Sunday Racing Co. Ltd.'s owners announced on their website last week that he will aim for the Group One Breeders' Cup Turf. Shahryar had throat surgery on August 24 for epiglottic entrapment, which he was diagnosed with after finishing 11th in the Grouo Two Sapporo Kinen on 20th August. Cristian Demuro will be riding him, and he has recovered well since the surgery.
Auguste Rodin, a dual Epsom and Irish Derby-winning son of Deep Impact trained by Aidan O'Brien, could also join Shahryar in the starting gates.
Equinox, the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic winner, is set to face off against Do Deuce in the Group one Tenno Sho Autumn on 29th October. Do Deuce beat Equinox by a neck in the 2022 Japanese Derby held in Tokyo in May. Since then, the two horses have not competed against each other. While Equinox went on to win four top-tier events, including the Takarazuka Kinen in June, Do Deuce's career went in the opposite direction.
He failed to hit the target in both of his races in France last year and finished 19th of 20 in the Arc. However, he won the Grade 2 Kyoto Kinen by three and a half lengths in February, and he is now back in training after recovering from an injury. Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi has announced plans for Do Deuce to compete in the Japan Cup and Arima Kinen.