Though his best form in America is over a mile, Wathnan Racing's Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance) has successfully negotiated a step up in trip in his last couple of appearances in the desert and 6-year-old gelding has well and truly earned his chance at Saturday's $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup going the 2000 meters, his first try at the trip.
One of just 837 horses foaled in Louisiana in 2020, Tumbarumba is a four-time stakes winner going eight furlongs, half of those since his acquisition by Wathnan in the summer of 2024, including last year's GIII Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Fourth to G1 Saudi Cup runner-up Nysos (Nyquist) in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile last November, he joined the yard of Hamad Al Jehani in Dubai late last year and has taken a step forward when tried over a bit further of late.
A runner-up effort to Imperial Emperor (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the 1900-meter G1 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan on Jan. 23 resulted in a trip to Riyadh and he was beaten less than five lengths into third behind Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in the $20-million contest Feb. 14.
In his 14 runs in the Wathnan colors, he has amassed earnings of over $2.7 million
“I give credit to Hamad Al Jehani and to [American-based trainer] Brian Lynch,” said Case Clay, the U.S. racing and bloodstock manager for Wathnan, shortly after touching down in Dubai on Wednesday. “This will be the longest he's gone, but Hamad has said he's taken a step forward since the Saudi Cup and he's tighter and that's encouraging to hear.”
Over the last few years, Wathnan has sought out horses of racing age with upside for private purchase, and Clay is thrilled with the success the operation has had with that approach thus far.
“It's been great, Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) falls into the same category,” he said of the World Cup's defending champion. “The remit is to try and buy horses that can potentially win races the Amir would be proud of. Thankfully Hit Show did it last year and hopefully one of these two can do it, but it's been nice to see them progress. If [Tumbarumba] is in a position towards the end where he can fight–whether he wins or not–he fights.”
Having contested the Dirt Mile in each of the last two seasons, Tumbarumba–a $30,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling purchase by Lynch in 2021–has created something of a good problem for his connections in that he has stamped himself as a possible Breeders' Cup Classic-caliber runner.
To that end, Clay isn't allowing himself to put the cart before the horse.
“Hopefully he has those options,” said Clay, who added that Tumbarumba will return to Lynch's care later this season. “The older-horse division in America will be very tough this year, so it's about trying to pick our spots and hopefully get them there on the big days. It's a long ways from here and we'll just enjoy Saturday night.”
In addition to the two World Cup runners, Wathnan is represented on the undercard by Make Me King (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Turf, Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint and by Generous Tipper (Street Sense), Hypnus (Into Mischief) and David of Athens (Nyquist) in the G2 Godolphin Mile.
The post Tumbarumba Facing Another Distance Test In Dubai World Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
