Charlie Johnston's Group 1-winning stayer Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) turned in a maintenance gallop at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Wednesday, ahead of an intended start in the G3 Longines Red Sea Turf H. on the G1 Saudi Cup undercard.
Set to face 12 rivals in the event, the 6-year-old entire has not graced the racecourse since dominating the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2021, having injured a tendon in training.
“It has been a very long road, 20 months since this horse saw the racecourse,” said Johnston. “It has been a long journey for the team and one where we've trodden on eggshells for the most of it. So, to see him back in this kind of environment is fantastic. Horses like him don't come around very often. It was getting to that point where you don't really care about the opposition.”
Already a winner of the 2020 G1 Prix Royal Oak, 2021 G2 Dubai Gold Cup, and his Royal Ascot demolition job, Subjectivist appears back to his best following a racecourse gallop at Newcastle earlier this month.
“We wouldn't be here if we didn't think we were ready,” Johnston added. “But at the same time any prep is difficult, but in particular in a situation when you come back from such a serious injury.
“We took him to Newcastle and that was a pretty serious workout. That was the key point, to feel he was in shape to be ready to come here.
“What he did here today was to see him stretch his legs, see that he is fit and well and that he has taken the journey OK. The hard work has been done at home and now it is a case of keeping him wrapped up until Saturday.
“It is very much one day at a time with this horse. Every morning he canters up the gallop, he goes into his box and we check that his leg is still OK.
“I've barely allowed myself to think about Saturday, never mind think beyond Saturday.”
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