International competition has long been the ultimate test of athletic ability, for both humans and horses, and at Flemington on Saturday (7 October), ROMANTIC WARRIOR faces significant challenges in the G1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m).
As accomplished as ROMANTIC WARRIOR is in Hong Kong, it is an entirely different assignment travelling abroad to Australia, acclimatising to new surroundings at Werribee, adjusting to training and racing left-handed, undergoing mandatory scans and, last but not least, taking on fellow Group 1 winners on their home turf.
There is no doubt ROMANTIC WARRIOR is world-class, having proved as much with three Group 1 victories – including two dominant displays against vaunted Japanese opposition over 2000m at Sha Tin, but the difficulty of replicating those performances abroad cannot be under-estimated.
Having learnt his craft from Ivan Allan, Danny Shum is an excellent horseman and has previously tasted success on the international stage with LITTLE BRIDGE in the 2012 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
But history shows how difficult it has been for Hong Kong horses to succeed in Australia with only one winner from 47 starters – CAPE OF GOOD HOPE’S success in the 2005 G1 Australia Stakes (1200m) for David Oughton.
Despite the obstacles confronting ROMANTIC WARRIOR, Danny and James McDonald in the Turnbull Stakes, all Hong Kong racing purists will be eager to see how this wonderful middle-distance champion and BMW Hong Kong Derby winner fares.
It is apparent from media coverage in Australia, coupled with some of James’ extremely positive comments, that much is expected of ROMANTIC WARRIOR in both the Turnbull Stakes and then also at his main objective, the G1 W. S. Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on 28 October.
Whatever the results, our customers will be able to enjoy the Club’s World Pool and simulcast coverage of both races and I would take this opportunity wish ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s owner Mr Peter Lau, Danny, James and Danny’s stable staff the very best of luck.
The Turnbull Stakes is carded as Race S1-3 to be run at 1.25pm. The going is likely to be soft at the start of the day but improving with no rain forecast.
There is no recognised pacemaker in the field and the pace will be moderate. Last year’s winner SMOKIN’ ROMANS will go forward from an outside gate and be in the leading division, with UNCLE BRYN and BANK MAUR racing closer to the speed than usual from inside draws.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR races on speed and James should have him near the lead and off the fence from gate 11. The Turnbull Stakes is run under set weights with penalties and as a result ROMANTIC WARRIOR will give weight to all his rivals but he worked impressively at Flemington last Sunday.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR will improve further after this run but his performances in winning the LONGINES Hong Kong International Cup in December and the FWD QEII Cup in April over PROGNOSIS and DUBAI HONOUR show he is a world class champion. He is my win selection.
The rest of the field looks evenly matched. GOLD TRIP ran fifth in this race last year before being runner-up in the Caulfield Cup and winning the Melbourne Cup. GOLD TRIP closed strongly late when resuming at Moonee Valley on 8 September and with cut in the ground is a place chance from his wide draw.
Simon and Ed Crisford are represented by WEST WIND BLOWS, who will be ridden by regular rider Jamie Spencer. WEST WIND BLOWS easily won a Group 3 race in France on rain-affected ground in June before finishing second to PYLEDRIVER in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. WEST WIND BLOWS should settle in the front half of the field and is a place chance.
SOULCOMBE was an impressive winner two starts ago at Listed level and then closed late for fourth behind ALLIGATOR BLOOD over 1800m at weight-for-age in the Underwood Stakes on 23 September. SOULCOMBE will get a good run from an inside draw and is a place chance.
Of the other runners, OSIPENKO ran well in the Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m last start and is a place chance, as are RIGHT YOU ARE and UNCLE BRYN with both horses targeting the Caulfield Cup at their next start.
The Sun Chariot Stakes will be run at Newmarket and is carded as S2-4 10.15pm. The Group 1 race is for fillies and mares, over a mile (1600m). The pace should be good with RANDOM HARVEST and ROMAN MIST likely to race in the leading division along with GOLDANA.
INSPIRAL is chasing her Group 1 fifth victory having bounced back to her best form in beating LIGHT INFANTRY in the Jacques le Marois at Deauville on 13 August. INSPIRAL was narrowly beaten in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and is the highest-rated horse in the field. She is my winning selection for Frankie Dettori and John and Thady Gosden.
French filly MQSE DE SEVIGNE is owned by Baron Edouard de Rothschild and prepared by legendary trainer Andre Fabre. MQSE DE SEVIGNE has scored successive G1 victories at Deauville in the Prix Rothschild and Prix Jean Romanet at her last two starts. Her chances will be enhanced further if there is cut in the ground and MQSE DE SEVIGNE is the hardest for Inspiral to beat.
MEDITATE ran fourth in the G1 Matron Stakes behind champion filly TAHIYRA at Leopardstown on 9 September and was fourth to the same filly in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien combine and MEDITATE is a place chance.
HEREDIA is an improving filly who has easily won her last two starts at Haydock and Sandown, the latest in the G3 Atlanta Stakes and she is a place chance with Sean Levey taking the ride for Richard Hannon.
Regarding the Club’s World Pool and simulcast programmes, following the International Conference of Horseracing Authorities in Paris on Monday, I travelled to Argentina on duty for meetings with South American Racing Authorities and Racing Clubs and will attend the LONGINES Gran Premio Latinoamericano, which we will simulcast for the first time at 4.45am (Hong Kong time) on Sunday morning (8 October).
The Gran Premio Latinoamericano extends the footprint of our simulcast and World Pools to South America and I look forward to attending the G1 feature at San Isidro Racecourse in Buenos Aires.
Comment
