Saudi Arabia: Uruguayan star Es-Unico, is ready to follow in the footsteps of last year’s Saudi Cup fifth Aero Trem with a trip to Riyadh for the G3 Saudi Derby on February 25.
Trainer Antonio Cintra’s assistant Julio Olascoaga is overseeing the three-year-old’s preparation in Dubai. “He won the most important race for two-year-olds in Uruguay,” said Olascoaga.
“Then he had a problem that did not allow him to compete in the Uruguayan Triple Crown so after that we thought of aiming for the Dubai Carnival and the Saudi Cup meeting.”
Cintra’s team have run four horses in Saudi Arabia altogether in the shape of Aero Trem, Perfect Love, El Patriota and Ajuste Fiscal.
“The planning to run at The Saudi Cup is something that comes from a long time ago,” explained Olascoaga. “In the first edition, we already had it in our minds that we wanted to compete there. Our plan is to select the best horses from Uruguay and test them against some of the world’s top performers.”
Unbeaten as a two-year-old in Uruguay, Es-Unico finished second on his first start in Dubai, the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial over 1400m.
Olascoaga said: “He ran a very good race and ran very hard at the end. It always seemed that a little more distance would help him and the mile of the Saudi Derby will suit him perfectly. His form is at a very high level and he will enjoy the long straight at King Abdulaziz.”
The only question is if he will run in the UAE 2000 Guineas first or go straight to Saudi. “He recovered very well after the race – better than we expected because it was a tough one,” said Olascoaga.
“I think that if he does the same in the 2000 Guineas, he could easily go to the Saudi Derby afterwards. It’s not ideal, maybe an extra week would have been better, but if the horse is fine, it’s very possible that he will run in both.”
No decision has been made on who will ride him in the Saudi Derby yet, but José Da Silva has always been on board and connections don’t see a reason to change things.
“South America has always been an exporter of great jockeys,” said Olascoaga. “There are outstanding examples like Silvestre de Sousa and Joao Moreira.
“Anywhere in the world you will find South American jockeys. We like jockeys who really feel the silks – not only wearing the colours of an owner but those of a country, an industry and a continent.”
When anyone mentions a Uruguayan great in the horse ranks, it is inevitable that the name of Breeders’ Cup Classic/Dubai World Cup winner Invasor comes up. Although born in Argentina, he is the best horse trained in Uruguay to date.
“When Invasor ran, I was still very young, but of course I watched all his races,” said Olascoaga. “I don’t know if you could say they are similar as they are horses of different physiques. Invasor was a little taller and slimmer, while Es-Unico is a medium-sized horse and a little more compact which makes him more agile.
“When he gallops he reaches top speed very quickly and I think his turn of foot will make the difference in Saudi. But there is something they both have in common – a huge heart and the fact they both carry the Uruguayan flag. Invasor became the best in the world – let’s see how far Es-Unico goes.”
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