Subjectivist In Good Order After Saudi Start, But Plans Up In The Air

[Wandering Eyes]

Dual Group 1 winner Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), who was making his first start in over 600 days in the G3 Red Sea Turf H. on the Saudi Cup undercard on Saturday, “seems fine” according to trainer Charlie Johnston.

The Dr. Jim Walker colourbearer, who had won the G1 Prix Royal-Oak, G2 Dubai Gold Cup, and G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in succession in 2020/2021, had made his first start back from an injury-induced layoff at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday, although he ran unplaced.

“Of course I was hoping he would run better than he did,” said the Middleham handler. “But given the way race panned out, he was obviously very, very fresh after a long time off and that was more accentuated by the fact that Joe [Fanning] had to light him up a bit to get him over from that draw. Once he'd lit the fuse, there was no going back.”

The 6-year-old entire is a possibility for the G2 Dubai Gold Cup on Mar. 25 or closer to home in the G3 Sagaro S. this spring.

Johnston added, “They were originally due to fly back tomorrow [Wednesday] but that has now been delayed until Friday, so he won't be home until then.

“At the moment he seems fine. We'll get a better handle on things once he's back home, but the initial signs are good, so that's promising at least.

“This delay makes things worse in that there's only four weeks between Saudi and Dubai and now, given the time it's taking to get him home and the time he'd need to leave before the race at Meydan, he'd only be back here for two weeks, so that is obviously going to have to be factored in.

“If he doesn't go to Dubai, something like the Sagaro would seem the obvious next port of call for him, but we'll wait and see the horse when he gets home and speak to Dr. Jim and make a plan from there.”

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