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Ushba Tesoro and stablemate Wilson Tesoro, trained by Noboru Takagi, completed their preparations for Saturday's US$20m Saudi Cup with matching 1000m breezes on the dirt track at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Wednesday.
The 8YO Ushba Tesoro, runner-up in last year's showpiece and subsequent Dubai World Cup victor, worked alongside his younger stablemate Wilson Tesoro, both carrying the colours of Ryotokuji Kenji. The 6YO Wilson Tesoro enters the contest following his JBC Classic triumph and second place to Forever Young in the Tokyo Daishoten.
"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."
American trainer Chad Summers is plotting a path to Kentucky with improving 3YO Cyclone State. The McKinzie colt, winner of the Jerome Stakes, schooled in the starting gates on Wednesday ahead of the US$1.5m Saudi Derby presented by ZOOD Realty.
"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," 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."
World's highest earner Romantic Warrior completed his Saudi Cup preparations with a steady canter on Wednesday, having worked under regular pilot James McDonald the previous day. Trainer Danny Shum expressed satisfaction with the Irish-bred champion's condition.
"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 Romantic Charm. He's done enough. He's very fit for The Saudi Cup."
Gregory, representing the Gosden partnership, is preparing for the US$2.5m Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap. The Wathnan Racing-owned 5YO stretched his legs on the dirt track, with co-trainer Thady Gosden reporting positive progress.
"He has travelled over very well," Gosden said. "He had a smooth flight directly from 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."
Meanwhile, British trainer Jamie Insole sends out his first international runner as Witness Stand, formerly trained by Tom Clover, prepares for the US$2m 1351 Turf Sprint presented by Boutique Group. The 4YO, a recent Tattersalls purchase, completed his preparation on the turf track.
"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."
The meeting continues to draw top-class international competition, with runners representing Japan, Hong Kong, Britain, and the United States competing for substantial prizes across the card at the Saudi venue.