Wilson Tesoro (Japanese: ウィルソンテソーロ, Hepburn: Uiruson Tesōro; foaled 25 February 2019) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. He has competed since 2021, recording ten wins in thirty starts, including the Japan Breeding Farms' Cup Classic (JpnI) in 2024, the Mile Championship Nambu Hai (JpnI) in 2025, and the Kashiwa Kinen (JpnI) in 2026. He also finished second in the Champions Cup (GI) three consecutive years from 2023 to 2025, becoming only the fifth horse in JRA history to achieve this feat. His racing name combines "Wilson," a personal name, with "Tesoro," the Italian word for "treasure."
Contents
Background
Wilson Tesoro is a bay colt bred in Hidaka, Hokkaido, by Ryoken Farm. He was sired by Kitasan Black, a son of Black Tide, and his dam was Chest Keros, an American-bred mare by Uncle Mo. His dam died of laminitis shortly after giving birth to him, making Wilson Tesoro her only foal. He was owned by Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings and initially sent into training with Noboru Takagi at the JRA's Miho Training Center.
Racing career
2021–2022: early career
Wilson Tesoro debuted on August 28, 2021, in a maiden race on the turf at Niigata Racecourse, finishing sixth behind Equinox. He was subsequently diagnosed with a fracture in his left foreleg and was sidelined for an extended period. He returned in June 2022 but finished unplaced in two turf races before switching to dirt, where he won three consecutive races at Tokyo Racecourse.
2023: four-year-old season
Wilson Tesoro won the Shofuku Stakes (Allowance) at Nakayama Racecourse in January, completing a four-race winning streak. He won the Kakitsubata Kinen (JpnIII) at Nagoya Racecourse in May in a race record time, the Mercury Cup (JpnIII) at Morioka Racecourse in July, and the Hakusan Daishoten (JpnIII) at Kanazawa Racecourse in September, achieving three consecutive graded stakes victories. He finished fifth in the Japan Breeding Farms' Cup Classic (JpnI) at Oi Racecourse in November. He finished second in the Champions Cup (GI) at Chukyo Racecourse in December at 92-to-1 odds, and second in the Tokyo Daishoten (GI) at Oi in December.
2024: five-year-old season
Wilson Tesoro finished eighth in the February Stakes (GI) at Tokyo in February and fourth in the Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan Racecourse in March. He finished second in the Teio Sho (JpnI) at Oi in June and second in the Korea Cup (G3) at Seoul Racecourse in September. On November 4, he won the Japan Breeding Farms' Cup Classic (JpnI) at Saga Racecourse by four lengths, recording his first Grade 1-level victory and the first dirt Grade 1 victory for his sire Kitasan Black. He finished second in the Champions Cup (GI) at Chukyo in December and second in the Tokyo Daishoten (GI) at Oi in December.
2025: six-year-old season
Wilson Tesoro finished fourth in the Saudi Cup (G1) at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in February and seventh in the Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan in April. He finished fifth in the Teio Sho (JpnI) at Oi in July. On October 13, he won the Mile Championship Nambu Hai (JpnI) at Morioka by four lengths, recording his second JpnI victory. He finished fifth in the JBC Classic (JpnI) at Funabashi Racecourse in November and second in the Champions Cup (GI) at Chukyo in December, becoming only the fifth horse in JRA history to finish second in the same GI race three consecutive years.
2026: seven-year-old season
Wilson Tesoro finished second in the February Stakes (GI) at Tokyo in February. He was scheduled to contest the Dubai World Cup but the plans were cancelled due to the 2026 Iran war occurring several weeks before the race. He instead ran in the Kashiwa Kinen (JpnI) on May 5 at Funabashi, where he won his third JpnI victory. He finished second in the Sakitama Hai (JpnI) at Urawa Racecourse in June. After a summer break, he resumed his season at the Mile Championship Nambu Hai (JpnI) to defend his title. Unfortunately, he got stuck in traffic at the final corner, and his final surge was not enough as he crossed the line third behind Meisho Hachiro and Strength.
Statistics
The following table details all 31 starts of Wilson Tesoro's racing career based on official netkeiba, JBIS, and Racing Post records. Record current as of 12 October 2026.
Pedigree
Wilson Tesoro is inbred 5 × 5 to Lyphard (sire side).
His sire Kitasan Black won the 2016 Kikuka Shō (GI) and 2017 Tennō Shō (Spring, GI).
His dam Chest Keros died of laminitis shortly after giving birth to him, making Wilson Tesoro her only foal.