'Never seen that in 30 years' - Japanese Breeders' Cup horse caught up in major scare

One of Japan’s best horses was involved in a scary incident on Monday while preparing to run in the US's richest horse race.

Ushba Tesoro, who won the Dubai World Cup in 2023 and has career earnings of nearly £13million, is being prepared for a second crack at the £5m Breeders’ Cup Classic in which he finished fifth last year. He has a reputation for being recalcitrant but Monday’s exercise took a worrying turn when he hit the track at Del Mar.

Ushba Tesoro was jogging gently along the main track when he suddenly halted, sending his exercise rider flying over his head. The rider Masakazu Fukami managed to keep hold of the reins but Ushba Tesoro’s head was twisted round.

He started to tussle with his jockey, as he wheeled around and appeared panicked before eventually calming down. The incident was shown during the Breakfast at the Cup show on TV.

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Pundit Simon Bray said: “He just propped there. He saw something and the rider came off. The exercise rider has done a great job.

“Look at him. This is a scary moment here. If he gets loose that could be his Breeders’ Cup Classic.”

Fukami was eventually legged back up on the horse and was reportedly unhurt in the incident. But during a further review of what happened, former trainer Bray spotted what had caused the horse to become distressed.

“You see something is hooked,” he explained. “His mouth is caught in the stirrup. He’s biting the rider’s stirrup. He’s got his mouth in the iron and that’s what’s causing that.

“I don’t know whether he grabbed it or it flipped up in his mouth but he’s biting onto that. It might be stuck on his jaw.

“He’s got to get it out. That stirrup was wedged in his mouth. I’ve been in this game 30 years and I’ve never seen that.”