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| Staff Writer |
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Julio Olascoaga has the chance of a significant upset when Drew's Gold takes on Tuz and Straight No Chaser in the Gr.1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on Saturday night at Meydan.
The 5YO joined Olascoaga with solid credentials, having finished second in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes when trained in the US by James Chapman. RRR Racing's charge made an immediate impact for his new connections, finishing a promising third to Tuz in the Gr.3 Al Shindagha Sprint in January.
Drew's Gold disappointed when only ninth in the Gr.3 Mahab Al Shimaal last time, but Olascoaga has identified the cause of that below-par effort.
"Gelson [Ribeiro], one of our work riders, has been working with him in the gate so I'm confident he won't do that this time," says the trainer. "We were very happy with his first run here and if he can repeat or improve upon that then he will be tough."
Reaching the big night is important for the 33-year-old Uruguayan handler, who has built an increasingly successful operation at Grandstand Stables in Dubai.
"We have 30 stalls here at Meydan and tremendous support from the owners and the team back in Uruguay, so this operation has continued to improve every year," he explains.
Working alongside his mentor, multiple Brazilian and Uruguayan Champion Trainer Antonio Cintra, Olascoaga has developed a reputation for improving horses with previous issues.
"We've had some good results with horses who have come from other trainers, like Desert Peace, Mount Kosciuszko," he says. "It's a challenge for me and I kind of enjoy it. Maybe they don't win big races but seeing a horse that came with problems back on the track, being competitive, gives me a lot of joy."
Drew's Gold will face formidable opposition in the Golden Shaheen, with defending champion Tuz and American raider Straight No Chaser heading the market.
The latter brings top-class US form, having captured the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Sprint last November. Tuz meanwhile showed his affinity for the Meydan dirt when winning the Gr.3 Al Shindagha Sprint in January, the race where Drew's Gold finished an encouraging third.
That piece of form gives Olascoaga quiet confidence heading into Saturday's contest. After addressing the gate issues that plagued his charge last time, the trainer believes Drew's Gold can outrun his likely odds.
"The competition is high, so I'm here 24 hours in the stable trying to find that small advantage that makes the difference between winning and losing. I enjoy being competitive and I enjoy winning," says the dedicated handler, who lives onsite at the stables.
"If he can repeat or improve upon his first run here then he will be tough," adds Olascoaga, who would count a Golden Shaheen placing as his greatest achievement since taking out his license three years ago.