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| Staff Writer |
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On March 22, a group of fourteen Japanese-trained runners arrived in Dubai to prepare for the upcoming Gr1 Dubai World Cup night on March 30 at Meydan Racecourse. This group joined nine other Japanese-trained runners, who had flown in from Saudi Arabia to Dubai on February 26. One of the intended runners for the $12 million Dubai World Cup is Ushba Tesoro, the defending champion of the Cup. This 7-year-old horse by Orfevre narrowly lost to Senor Buscador in the Gr1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz on February 24. Ushba Tesoro has earned a total of $13.27 million, and if he secures back-to-back Dubai World Cup wins and the first-place prize of $6.96 million, his earnings will soar to $20.23 million, surpassing Equinox as the all-time leading money earner in Japan, who earned $15.66 million.
A 4YO colt named Derma Sotogake, who won the Gr 2 UAE Derby at Meydan by 5 1/2 lengths last year, has been training at Meydan for the past four weeks. However, he was a disappointment after finishing fifth in the Saudi Cup, having been the runner-up to White Abarrio in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park on November 4.
Apart from Derma Sotogake, Wilson Tesoro and Dura Erede are also representing Japan in the Dubai World Cup. These two finished second and third in Gr1 Tokyo Daishoten at Oi on December 29 and they arrived at Meydan on March 22.