Romantic Warrior ready for G1 Dubai Turf test
Romantic Warrior has completed his final piece of fast work ahead of the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) at Meydan on Saturday (5 April), when Danny Shum’s globetrotting champion bids for a Hong Kong record 11th Group 1 victory.
Romantic Warrior is as short as 1.50 with most horse racing bookmakers, with the only other runner in single-figure odds being Liberty Island, who is 9.00 with Betway.com.
Partnered by regular rider James McDonald on Tuesday morning, Romantic Warrior worked with companion Romantic Charm on the course proper, delighting Danny Shum with a leisurely hit-out.
“Actually, he’s very fit at the moment so I talked with James McDonald and asked him to give him a happy, easy, smooth gallop on the turf and let him enjoy the work (because) the race is coming and after the gallop James gave me a very positive report,” Shum said.
“He (McDonald) said the horse is very fit. He loves the horse. The horse loves it here and he is very happy here.”
Reflecting on Romantic Warrior’s G1 Jebel Hatta (1800m) victory in record-breaking time (1m 45.10s) on January 24, Shum said: “I think at that time, he was about 85 percent fit but he did a great job. It was a great run.”
The winner of 18 of 24 starts and world record prizemoney of HK$206.9 million, Romantic Warrior currently shares the Hong Kong racing record for the most Group 1 triumphs with Golden Sixty and Dubai Turf victory against 10 rivals this weekend would shunt the Acclamation gelding into outright leadership.
Narrowly beaten by Japanese dirt superstar Forever Young in the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) on February 22, Romantic Warrior has thrived since returning to Meydan ahead of what is slated to be the final run of another glorious campaign.
“Even in the Saudi Cup, even though he ran second, he still broke the record as well. Forever Young was too good on the dirt,” Shum said.
“I wanted to cry after the race, Forever Young was very strong but the third horse (Ushba Tesoro) was 10 lengths behind.
“So, he (Romantic Warrior) has done a great job already. He’s taken my team everywhere – Australia, Japan, Saudi and Dubai.
“This time (in the Dubai Turf), the Japanese horses are very dangerous. The main dangers are the Japanese horses. James will ride him wherever he’s comfortable. He’s got natural speed, so it all depends on the pace. He’s very flexible.”
Romantic Warrior will claim a US$500,000 bonus (Approx HK$3.87 million) if he clinches the Dubai Turf against last year’s winner Facteur Cheval and a powerful Japanese squad led by Liberty Island, Soul Rush, Brede Weg and Meisho Tabaru.
The Dubai Turf is scheduled to be run at 11.15pm (Hong Kong time) on Saturday.
John Size-trained Howdeepisyourlove will bid to give Hong Kong successive victories in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) on Saturday. The 116-rater has finished third at Group 1 level behind Ka Ying Rising at his two most recent starts and will this weekend attempt to emulate California Spangle’s 2024 Al Quoz success.
As well as riding Howdeepisyourlove in the Al Quoz Sprint at 9.20pm (HKT), McDonald will also partner Frankie Lor-trained Sword Point in the G2 Godolphin Mile (1600m, dirt) at 8.45pm (HKT).
McDonald is one of the top riders in Australian racing and has returned to his glorious best in recent times after a suspension which ruled him out for 18 months.
