After Dubai Guineas setback, Giustino looks tostep up in Saudi Derby
Por Diego H. Mitagstein (Special correspondent of Turf Diario in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
RIYADH, Arabia Saudita.- For Julio Olascoaga and the Antonio Cintra team, now based in Dubai, competing at the Saudi Cup (G1) meet has become something of a tradition.
This time, their adventure takes them to the Saudi Derby (G3) with Argentine-bred Giustino (Full Mast), a standout 3-year-old of 2024 and a homebred for Stud-Haras La Providencia. A dominant force in Argentina before his export, the chestnut colt captured both the Clásico Old Man (G3) and the Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (G1) before heading to Dubai with the goal of launching a Middle Eastern campaign.
However, his international debut didn’t go as planned, finishing off the board in the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) at Meydan. Now, he looks for redemption at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, where he is among 11 confirmed runners for the one-mile test.
"It’s always a pleasure to be here, and we have a lot of confidence in what Giustino can do in the Saudi Derby," said Olascoaga, as he received warm greetings from many familiar faces he has met over the years on the international stage.
Giustino arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday evening, and Olascoaga shared his thoughts on the journey: "He traveled well but was slightly delayed. It took about seven and a half hours from stall to stall, a bit longer than usual due to the departure process in Dubai. By the evening, he was already settled in Riyadh. We gave him an easy jog today to keep him fresh, and on Thursday, he’ll have a proper gallop. In the afternoon, we schooled him around the paddock, and thankfully, he remained very relaxed"...
So what does Olascoaga expect from his colt on Saturday? "We were a little disappointed in the UAE 2000 Guineas because we thought he would run much better, but he had some excuses. The good news is that he came out of the race in great shape. He’s a horse who always shows his ability in the mornings, and we have the feeling he will take a big step forward from his Meydan run."
Mickael Barzalona will be aboard Giustino for the first time. "We spoke after the Guineas, and he told me he actually liked the way the horse ran. We even watched the replay together. Once we knew he would be available for the Derby, he came to Meydan to breeze him a couple of times and left feeling very confident," Olascoaga added, noting the French jockey’s eagerness to take the reins.
Physically, Giustino appears to have thrived since his arrival. "He looks spectacular. From the moment he got here, he hasn’t missed a beat. He’s strong, sound, eats well, and handles training and racing without any issues. This morning, he was a little fired up—it was his first time on this track—but he did the same when he arrived in Meydan. By Thursday, he should be fully settled in."
Olascoaga knows the challenge ahead won’t be easy. "Maybe this year’s race isn’t as tough as in previous editions, but there are still plenty of strong rivals. The Japanese horses are always serious contenders, the locals tend to improve, and the American colt deserves respect. And then there’s Golden Vekoma (Vekoma), who won the UAE 2000 Guineas—he’s going to be a tough one to beat."
As for how the season has been shaping up for the Tolu Cintra team, Olascoaga remains pragmatic: "This weekend and next, we have several horses competing with an eye on Dubai World Cup night, so these are very important races for us. The overall experience is always positive because we keep learning. From a sporting perspective, we may have missed a few key results—some horses didn’t perform as expected, others came close but fell short—but we are always competing, always giving our best, and always improving."
The same team that finished fifth in the Saudi Cup a couple of years ago with Aero Trem (Shanghai Bobby) is back for another shot at glory.
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