Drew's Gold aims to shine in Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan

Khaleej Times

02-04-2025

Being universally liked is a rare thing in racing, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone with a bad word to say about Julio Olascoaga.
The young Uruguayan trainer has been steadily making his mark in the UAE, and now he's eyeing a breakthrough as Drew's Gold takes on heavyweights Tuz and Straight No Chaser in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen.
A former US-based runner, R Racing's five-year-old showed promise when finishing second in the G1 Woody Stephens Stakes under previous trainer James Chapman. Since arriving in Dubai, he placed third behind Tuz in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint before an unfortunate start saw him finish ninth in the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal.
Olascoaga, however, remains confident.
'Gelson [Ribeiro], one of our work riders, has been working with him in the gate, so I'm confident he won't miss the break this time,' he says. 'We were happy with his first run here, and if he can repeat or improve on that, he'll be tough to beat.'
For Olascoaga, a win on Dubai's biggest night would mark a significant milestone. The 33-year-old's path to the top has been anything but conventional—starting as an equine veterinarian before a stint as a flying groom led him to work with multiple Brazilian and Uruguayan Champion Trainer Antonio Cintra. That experience eventually brought him to Dubai, where he has spent nearly five years honing his craft at Grandstand Stables.
'I came here in 2019 with Antonio and three horses,' he recalls. 'At first, it was just for a week, then a month, and now almost five years later, here I am.'
With 30 stalls at Meydan and strong backing from owners and supporters in Uruguay, Olascoaga's operation continues to grow.
'Everyone back home with a good horse eventually dreams of running overseas, and Dubai is a natural option. The prize money and exposure here are huge,' he explains. 'We could bring more horses, but there wasn't room this season. If the right conditions are there, we'll expand.'
His record already boasts multiple Listed-level wins, including this season's National Day Cup in Abu Dhabi with Daramethos. But for Olascoaga, a defining moment came in 2022 with Quality Boone's victory in the Listed Al Bastakiya.
'That win was a game-changer,' he says. 'It changed the way local owners saw us.'
Another standout was Atletico El Culano's triumph in the Listed Entisar, a sentimental win for Uruguayan racing fans, as the horse had previously captured the nation's most prestigious race—the 2021 G1 Gran Premio Jose Pedro Ramirez.
Olascoaga has earned a reputation for revitalizing horses with past issues, something he embraces.
'We've had good results with horses that came from other trainers, like Desert Peace and Mount Kosciuszko,' he says. 'It's a challenge, but I enjoy it. Maybe they don't win big races, but seeing a horse come back from setbacks and compete again—that gives me a lot of joy.'
While many his age might be soaking up Dubai's nightlife, Olascoaga is fully immersed in his work—living onsite at the stables and zipping between tracks on an electric scooter every morning.
'I believe you have to give 120 per cent in this business,' he says. 'The competition is intense, and the margins are small. I'm here 24 hours a day, looking for those little edges that turn second-place finishes into wins.'
That relentless drive is what fuels him.
'My goal every day is simple—to be the best I can possibly be the next morning,' he says. 'That's how I live, and that's how I like it.'