In the days leading up to Saturday’s $20 million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, usracing.com is posting profiles of the leading contenders.
USHBA TESORO
As a 6-year-old, he won the 2023 Dubai World Cup (G1), and last year, he finished second by a head in the Saudi Cup (G1) and second in the Dubai World Cup. That’s about $13 million in earnings for three races – one win, two defeats. Cool.
A look at his past three races at the end of 2024 shows a second-place finish in September in the Nippon TV Hai, a 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), and a fourth in Tokyo Daishoten (G1) on Dec. 29 behind fellow Saudi Cup runners Forever Young, Wilson Tesoro, and Ramjet.
Betting Advice: This closer could make a late run. With a mediocre field at best, perhaps Ushba Tesoro can pull this off or at least come close. Use underneath in your wagers.
Post position: 1
Odds: 14-1
Jockey: Akira Sugawara
Trainer: Noboru Takagi
Owner: Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings
Career record: 37-11-4-5
Career earnings: $16,547,874
Age: 8
Last race: Tokyo Daishoten (G1), Oi Racecourse, Dec. 29 (4th)
Top Equibase speed figure: 112
Pedigree: Orfevre (JPN)-Millefeul Attach (JPN), by King Kamehameha (JPN)
Color: Bay
Running style: Closer
Notes: Ran 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and fourth, well behind Forever Young in the Tokyo Daishoten (G1) in the final start of 2024 … Ushba Tesoro’s $16.5 million bankroll makes him Japan’s all-time leader … Ushba is a mountain in the former Soviet republic of Georgia … The horse was only 3-for-22 on turf before switching to dirt, where he’s 8-for-15.