The $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) is March 30 at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The race is for 4-year-olds and up at 1 ¼ miles on dirt. usracing.com is publishing profiles of the contenders.
SENOR BUSCADOR
Senor Buscador won the 2024 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Cup photo.
This somewhat humbly bred horse surprised just about everyone with his thrilling nose win in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) a month ago, that is everyone except his connections. His trainer, Arizona and New Mexico-based Todd Fincher, always believed in his ability and sent out a ready and fit horse last time and he rewarded his faith with an impressive $10 million paycheck. Senor Buscador is the last horse bred by Joe Peacock Jr. and his late father and he has taken the family on the ride of their lives.
“This is our first trip and honestly I never expected to have this opportunity,” Peacock said. “But we got the invitation and the horse is doing great.
“He came out of the Saudi Cup in great order. (Exercise rider) Oscar (Rojero) reports that he’s perfect so we’re just happy. He couldn’t be going any better right now. He’s taken us all over the U.S. in races and (we’re) happy to get the opportunity to come over here to the Middle East and try these. Getting to run on the world’s stage is a big deal and we don’t take that lightly. We’re very appreciative of the opportunity.
“It’s been a big deal for our family for sure.”
The major concern for this son of Mineshaft is fatigue. Shipping halfway around the world has been known to knock U.S.-based horses out for weeks, if not months, but he has presented himself in good order while training at Meydan for the past couple of weeks.
Betting advice: He has proven he always shows up in a pinch, he will get a good pace to run at and if we learned anything from last time it’s best to not ignore his chances.
The champ, SEÑOR BUSCADOR, taking it all in ahead of Saturday’s Dubai World Cup.
👑 🇸🇦 🇦🇪 #TheSaudiCup #DWC24 pic.twitter.com/but8GmivUR
— The Saudi Cup (@thesaudicup) March 27, 2024
2024 Dubai World Cup Contender: Senor Buscador
Post position: 10
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Trainer: Todd Fincher
Owner: Joe R. Peacock, Jr. and Sharraf Mohammed S. Al Hariri
Age: 6
Career record: 18-7-2-2
Career earnings: $11,496,427
Last race: Saudi Cup (G1), 1st
Top Equibase speed figure: 113
Pedigree: Mineshaft-Rose’s Desert, by Desert God
Color: Bay
Running Style: Deep closer
Notes: He is a product of a longtime breeding program run by the Peacocks, who campaigned and bred his dam, and also campaigned and bred his granddam… Owner Joe Peacock Jr. also said the family still owns all of his family members, including his brothers and sisters.