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| Staff Writer |
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Senor Buscador, owned by Joey Peacock Jr., clinched victory in the prestigious US$20 million Saudi Cup, displaying remarkable skill and determination.
With Peacock announcing "On to Dubai" post-victory, excitement reverberated through the racing world. Under the guidance of trainer Todd Fincher and jockey Junior Alvarado, the 6YO Mineshaft offspring secured his first Group One win in impressive style.
After a close defeat to National Treasure in the Jan 27th Pegasus World Cup Invitational, Senor Buscador proved his mettle on the international stage. Despite stiff competition, including Japan's Ushba Tesoro, the 6YO showed remarkable grit, rallying to win by a slim margin. Now, let's explore what lies ahead for his ambitious quest for more global glory.
Indeed, they had a strategy in place, but circumstances delayed its execution until later. Fortunately, our rider demonstrated remarkable skill and decision-making, leading to a successful outcome. I must say, Junior Alvarado performed admirably. It was his third time riding Senor Buscador in a race, having worked extensively with the horse in both Florida and New York. Their rapport seems strong, with mutual fondness and understanding evident in their relationship.
We were in disbelief because we couldn't see clearly who won the race. But Junior Alvarado started celebrating immediately, which made us feel better. However, we had to wait for the official results to be sure. After the race, there was a lot of excitement and celebration. Also, having a Saudi National interested in the horse helped get local support.
I'd like to get there for the post-position draw, which I believe is on Wednesday.
Immediately after the race, when we realised he had won, all the pressure lifted. It was a celebration of winning the race and Senor Buscador defeating 13 of the best thoroughbreds worldwide. We've always known his talent but seeing him finally recognised is gratifying. He has not received much recognition in his racing career, so this recognition was well-deserved.
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His racing style can be frustrating. He starts off slow, letting other horses take the lead. But as the race goes on, he catches up and passes them. If he follows his plan, he speeds up a lot at the end, trying to beat as many horses as possible. I wish he'd stay closer to the front to make things simpler. But despite our efforts, he likes to race his way. So, we've accepted it and let him do what he wants. He has a style and personality that we can't change. Sometimes, this puts us at a disadvantage, especially on tracks that suit front running horses. Still, he always gives his best and finishes strongly. We're proud of his determination and achievements.
Certainly, it's significant because we own Senor Buscador, his dam, and all his siblings. This victory is not only crucial for Senor Buscador but also for our entire equine family. Looking ahead, it highlights their abilities, which should benefit them in the future by raising awareness of their talent.
He’s a third-generation home-bred for us. We bred his mother and grandmother. We own his mother, Rose’s Desert, and all his siblings. We’ve never sold any of them. When planning our matings, we consider different platforms. Rose's Desert was an excellent match with Mineshaft. We raise our horses to race on dirt, aiming to compete at the highest level, usually in classic distances. That's why Mineshaft appealed to us—he had the stamina for it, making him a good fit for our goals. And that's how we ended up here.
She's amazing. She has recently turned 16 and has been living in Kentucky at Shawhan Place farm, where she's doing very well. She has a great personality and has brought a lot of joy to my parents. During her racing career, she competed 15 times, winning ten races and coming in second in the other five. Her offspring are also exceptional, inheriting her strong will to succeed. This quality is something special about her. She continues to be a blessing, consistently delivering excellence in her foals.
We're fully committed to helping Senor Buscador become a successful stallion. We believe in his strong bloodline and understand the importance of choosing suitable mares to improve his offspring. We're currently looking for compatible mares to enhance his breeding career and are prepared to invest in acquiring them.
We won't breed Senor Buscador to his close relatives, but we own all his sisters. None of them are for sale, and we plan to continue breeding them for future racehorses. We have tremendous confidence in this bloodline, so we've kept all the horses within the family.
We’ve invested heavily in Senor Buscador, considering his mother, Rose's Desert, who has consistently produced exceptional racehorses. We feel fortunate to have such a remarkable mare, allowing us to breed and raise high-quality racehorses with our bloodlines. This strategy enables us to compete without purchasing expensive horses from Kentucky or New York, where top-quality horses fetch hefty prices.
Indeed, we've invested heavily in Senor Buscador, considering his mother, Roses Desert, who has consistently produced exceptional racehorses. We feel fortunate to have such a remarkable mare, allowing us to breed and raise high-quality racehorses with our bloodlines. This strategy enables us to compete without purchasing expensive horses from Kentucky or New York, where top-quality horses fetch hefty prices.
Post-Dubai, regardless of the outcome, our plan is to bring Senor Buscador back to the US, prioritising his health. He will likely have downtime to recover from travel before resuming training, targeting the Breeders Cup in November at Del Mar racetrack in California, where he has excelled before. Later this year we'll evaluate his health and hopefully secure a stallion deal, preferably in Kentucky, the heart of the US thoroughbred industry, ensuring a bright future for him.
After Senor Buscador was born, his mother took a break. Aye Candy, our 3YO filly by Candy Ride, won her first race in November but had a minor health issue while training for a stakes race. She's resting now and aims to race at Del Mar this summer. Rose A, a promising 2YO filly by Hard Spun, is under Todd's care. Additionally, The Hell We Did, a yearling colt by Authentic, will begin training with Todd later this fall. Roses Desert expects a filly by Into Mischief in May, and we're excited about our prospects.
I did consider repeating a stallion, but we've only done so once. Roses Desert's first foal, Runaway Ghost by Ghostzapper, was a standout racer who missed the Kentucky Derby due to injury. We then bred her to Curlin, yielding Sheriff Brown, and returned to Ghostzapper for Our Iris Rose. Diversifying her breeding has yielded pleasing results, exploring various genetic combinations.
While my father was alive, he made all the breeding decisions, selecting Ghostzapper, Curlin, and Mineshaft. Since his passing, I've opted for Candy Ride, Hard Spun, Into Mischief, and Uncle Mo. We're independent in our choices and don't rely on others for decision-making in breeding.
We're incredibly thrilled about this opportunity. Our initial goal was to compete at the highest level in the US, but the chance to race in the Middle East on the global stage is beyond our wildest dreams. It's truly an honour and a privilege for us. We're eagerly anticipating the experience and excited about what lies ahead.
With ambitious goals set for the future, including the pursuit of further glory on the world stage and the expansion of their breeding operation, Senor Buscador's journey continues to captivate and inspire. As we eagerly anticipate his next chapter, one thing remains certain—Senor Buscador's legacy in the world of horse racing is destined to endure.