Wilson Tesoro Withdraws from Dubai World Cup, Targets Kashiwa Kinen

Connections of the six-year-old Wilson Tesoro have canceled his planned trip to the Dubai World Cup at Meydan and will instead target the Jpn1 Kashiwa Kinen at Funabashi, a decision that reshuffles the international contingent on Dubai World Cup night. The change was flagged publicly through racing channels and a high-engagement analyst post highlighting the switch in campaign.

The move follows on-track activity earlier at Meydan where the Noburu Takagi-trained pair Ushba Tesoro and Wilson Tesoro breezed five furlongs on the main track. Jockey Yuga Kawada, who rode Ushba Tesoro to a big-race victory two years ago and has since been aboard Wilson Tesoro, said, "He is in better form than he was in the Saudi Cup and moved well. I suppose he recovered well from his last appearance. I am confident to go to the race on Saturday." That assessment was recorded while the stablemates were completing their pre-World Cup paces.

The withdrawal was reported after those on-track preparations and creates a late adjustment to Meydan’s international field. The cancellation note did not include a direct public statement from Wilson Tesoro’s trainer or owner in the material circulated, and the precise timing of the decision relative to the Meydan breeze has not been provided in the available notices. Racing analysts flagged the switch on social platforms, drawing heightened engagement among followers tracking Japanese runners abroad.

Japan’s Win Carnelian also pulled out of Dubai plans and will instead aim for the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, with a Japanese racing forum posting, "Wilson Tesoro and Win Carnelian too cancelled their Dubai Racing plans" and adding, "We sure have a lot of Japanese contenders for Dubai races this year. There are still many yet to announce their plans." Those two withdrawals underscore a broader pattern of Japanese trainers recalibrating international targets in the weeks before Meydan.

Other runners on the Dubai night card remain in play. Sword Point, who has had two starts in Hong Kong dirt handicaps for two wins, did not secure an invite to the Dubai World Cup and was entered in the Godolphin Mile instead; as one connection put it, "Lor said that he would have liked to go around in the Dubai World Cup, but as an invite was only forthcoming for the Godolphin Mile, he runs there instead." Michael Costa will be represented in the Godolphin Mile by Sadaaty, the son of Oasis Dream who was a cosy winner of both the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort and Group 3 Ras Al Khor; Johanne Taylor, Costa’s assistant, said, "He's in very good order. We're really pleased with where he's at coming into this task. He did his final piece of big work on Monday at home at Jebel Ali and we'll now just keep him happy leading into Saturday." Rafid remains entered in the $1,000,000 Group 2 UAE Derby with trainer Doug Watson hoping the colt can uphold family honour on Dubai World Cup evening.

The immediate implications are twofold: Meydan loses a high-profile Japanese contender, and Funabashi’s Kashiwa Kinen gains a top-level entrant who had been pointing to an international assignment. Officials and connections will need to confirm declarations for Kashiwa Kinen and Takamatsunomiya Kinen, and Meydan will likely issue an updated field list ahead of Saturday as other Japanese runners finalize plans.