From Last Chance To Dubai Dreams: The Remarkable Revival Of Straight

Forest Therapy Unlocks Straight's Hidden Potential

What makes Straight's story compelling is the unconventional rehabilitation that breathed new life into his racing career. Rather than conventional training methods, Weissmeier took a personal approach to address the horse's medical struggles.

"He had a mental problem," Weissmeier explains. "We made the difference—I jumped on him, I went in the forest with him. Then he started to get happy again. Only a happy horse performs well."

This forest therapy proved transformative. The rejuvenated Straight rewarded his trainer's patience with an extraordinary performance in his very first race for the new stable, finishing second in a Group One contest behind world-class performer Rebel's Romance.

"He showed a lot of class in his work," Weissmeier notes. "That day, a lot of people saw that I can also train good horses. Then I got 18 yearlings from big owners. So, I'm really happy."

Saudi Success Despite Tactical Setbacks

Straight's international campaign began with a creditable performance in Saudi Arabia, despite race tactics not going according to plan. This Middle East debut proved significant for both the horse and trainer.

"For me, this was the first time," he acknowledges. "But also, for German trainers, it's not often that you have a horse you can run in that race."

The Saudi experience was encouraging despite challenging conditions. "We had the best draw but had to go to the last position. That was not the plan," Weissmeier recounts. "We were really happy that he ran like this."

Now, with better weather and that crucial race experience, Weissmeier believes his charge will arrive in Dubai in peak condition. "It's a bit easier for us because he has a race under his belt. We keep him fit, and the weather is really favourable for us. I think now the preparation will be better than his condition for Saudi."

Gold Cup Targeted Over Star-Studded Sheema Classic

While initially considering the Sheema Classic for Straight's Dubai World Cup night assignment, Weissmeier is now leaning toward the Dubai Gold Cup as a more strategic option.

"The Sheema Classic is really hard. There are serious World Cup horses inside," he observes. "In the Gold Cup, with his rating of 117, he's one of the third best in the whole race based on ratings. So I think we have a good chance. He's a good horse over a long distance from France. And I think the Gold Cup is much easier than the Sheema Classic."

Weissmeier's assessment of the Sheema Classic field is striking. "In the Sheema Classic, we have Rebel's Romance, number two in the world, and Shin Emperor from Saudi, and horses from France. I think three Japanese horses inside were all placed in the Saudi Cup. It's a really tough race. I'm not sure when I saw a race like this before."

From Problem Horse To International Contender

Straight's remarkable rise represents a success story that few could have predicted. The relationship between Weissmeier and Straight's owner began with different horses altogether.

"I started with this owner two years ago. They gave me two horses from big trainers who didn't perform well. I trained them and was lucky to win some races. Then we started with younger horses. It worked really well," Weissmeier explains.

The results speak for themselves, with Straight elevating both horse and trainer to new heights. "Last year with Straight, we had our first Group One winner of my career. That was a really emotional thing," the trainer says.

This success story is even more remarkable considering Weissmeier's relatively short time in the training ranks. "I'm now in my seventh year. I started with two horses, very small, and then I worked hard. The more success I got, the more horses came. Now I'm one of the biggest trainers in Germany. I have a good team, and everything works well."

Building For International Success

Weissmeier's approach to sourcing horses reveals a thoughtful strategy comprising Germany's racing calendar and international opportunities. "For Germany, for the winter, I always buy horses in England only for the dirt because we have dirt races in Germany only in the winter. But the big studs in Germany breed normally for turf," he explains.

This focus on versatility extends to his willingness to experiment with surface changes. "Sometimes we have discussions. I try to say, let us try on the dirt. Also, Straight—he works on the dirt really well. It's really hard against Japanese or American blood competition, and if you're not trying, you never know."

Weissmeier also benefits from working with savvy bloodstock experts. "My client also goes to big sales in France and England. He looks for horses for his clients. He has a good eye. He bought last year's Italian Derby winner, and he was second in the German Derby. He bought him, I think, for 30,000 francs. So he has a good hand to buy and also to sell."

This international mindset extends to placing German-bred horses globally. "Most of the German-bred horses go internationally. He sends them to Australia, Hong Kong, and somewhere else."

Weissmeier credits his horsemanship to a lifetime of equine education. "My mother is also a trainer. We were around horses from childhood on. We worked with the horses, so we learned a lot about the whole care."

This foundation has shaped his intuitive approach to troubled horses like Straight "I have a feeling for the whole system, ”he states confidently. “ If I see something with my eyes, and I can feel it with my hands, then it's normally true. Since then, I'm thinking about everything—everything in my life is around the races."

Looking ahead, Weissmeier's operation continues to expand, with Straight serving as the flagship representative. "We have a good team now, and we have 60 horses in training. So, if it works well this year, I think next year we will be one of the biggest in Germany with a lot of quality young horses."

As Straight prepares for his Dubai challenge, his journey from nearly being discarded to competing on racing's world stage testifies to the difference understanding and patience can make in a horse's career.

"We are really excited to see how it works, and hopefully, all goes well, and we have a good chance of being placed in the Gold Cup," says Weissmeier, who plans to bring Straight to Dubai one week before the race. "It's a dream to win one of the big points in the Middle East. I think it's a hard journey. Maybe one day we are lucky."