After months of anticipation and preparation, the day of destiny has almost arrived for Hong Kong’s global middle distance champion ROMANTIC WARRIOR.
Having repeatedly conquered world-class opposition over 2000m at Group 1 level in Hong Kong, eclipsed Australasia’s finest in the G1 W. S. Cox Plate (2040m) in Melbourne and triumphed over Japan’s premier milers in the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) in Tokyo, ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s greatest career challenge awaits in the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m) on the powdery dirt of King Abdulaziz Racecourse early on Sunday morning (HKT).
As accomplished as he is on turf – prevailing racing on unfamiliar circuits, left-handed and right-handed – the one unknown surrounding this incredible horse is how ROMANTIC WARRIOR will handle dirt against 13 seasoned rivals, all with experience on the surface.
The answer will not be apparent until the field is released at on Sunday when the ambitious plans hatched by owner Mr Peter Lau, trainer Danny Shum and jockey James McDonald will be tested under race conditions.
I admire the sporting adventure shown by Peter, Danny and James and I wish them all the best with a magnificent horse who has nothing to prove on turf and who ventures into the unknown this weekend.
The Saudi Cup is carded as S2-7 and will be run over 1800m at 1.40am on Sunday (23 February).
The speed will be good. WALK OF STARS likes to lead and EL KODIGO and AL MUSMAK will also ensure the race is run at a strong tempo.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR has drawn ideally in gate three and with his good early speed James McDonald will hopefully have him in a forward position, one off the fence. His Jebel Hatta (1800m) win was brilliant and he has been working well since in Riyadh in preparation for this race.
The powdery dirt track surface in Riyadh has a higher clay content than traditional dirt tracks and provides ROMANTIC WARRIOR with a better chance to show his class, but it is a massive undertaking to run against dirt specialists. To run a place would be a great achievement and one should not be disappointed if he does not achieve this.
The hardest for ROMANTIC WARRIOR to beat should be Japan’s FOREVER YOUNG. Trained by Yoshita Yahagi, FOREVER YOUNG was third in last year’s Kentucky Derby as well as the Breeders’ Cup Classic behind SIERRA LEONE and FIERCENESS. FOREVER YOUNG was a dominant winner of the Tokyo Daishoten on 29 December, beating WILSON TESORO and RAMJET. FOREVER YOUNG has drawn wide for Ryusei Sakai but he is a world-class horse and is a win and place chance.
USHBA TESORO, winner of the 2023 Dubai World Cup, was narrowly beaten by SENOR BUSCADOR in this race last year. He was a well-beaten fourth in the Tokyo Daishoten behind FOREVER YOUNG last start but can run well for Akira Sugiwara.
WILSON TESORO (Yuga Kawada) and RAMJET (Kosei Miura) ran second and third, respectively, in the Tokyo Daishoten last start and also have place claims.
Trainer Ken McPeek has been effusive in his praise of RATTLE N ROLL and he scored easily over this course and distance last start in the traditional Saudi Cup lead-up race on 25 January. Joel Rosario rides the horse again and he is a place chance.
WALK OF STARS, trained in Dubai by Bhupat Seemar and ridden by Tadhg O’Shea led all the way to win the Al Maktoum Challenge last start and will be in front for a long way, while Argentinian runners INTENSE FOR ME (Camillo Ospina) and EL KODIGO (Gustavo Calvente) bring the best of South America’s form to the race, having finished first and second, respectively, in the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini on turf in December.
The Saudi Cup meeting is part of an engrossing World Pool programme, which starts at Caulfield on Saturday with five races simulcast starting with the G3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) at 12.05pm, and finishes with a Group 1 double-header at Sha Tin on Sunday (23 February).
The G1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield is carded as S1-2 and will be run over 1400m at 12.40pm.
The pace will be slow to moderate with EVAPORATE and PRIVATE LIFE likely to lead with MR BRIGHTSIDE going forward from barrier 11.
MR BRIGHTSIDE (Craig Williams) won this race last year beating PERICLES before resuming with an excellent effort in the C.F. Orr Stakes on 8 February when he finished second to ANOTHER WIL. MR BRIGHTSIDE will again have to work early to go forward from a wide gate but he is my win and place selection.
I WISH I WIN resumes and has a good record first-up and should get a good run from gate three under Jamie Melham. He is a place chance along with PERICLES (Blake Shinn) and PRIVATE LIFE (Damian Lane).
The G1 Blue Diamond Stakes is carded as S1-3 and will be run over 1200m at 1.15pm.
This race is always run at a good pace and THE PLAYWRIGHT and TENTYRIS should ensure a fast early speed with MY GLADIOLA also going forward.
The connections of FIELD OF PLAY paid a late entry to run in this race after winning the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) impressively two weeks ago. Blake Shinn takes the ride again and FIELD OF PLAY is a win and place chance.
PALM ANGEL (Ethan Brown) won the fillies’ Blue Diamond Prelude when she finished strongly to comfortably beat the favourite MY GLADIOLA. She gave the impression 1200m will suit her and, if the rails draw is not a disadvantage, PALM ANGEL is a place chance.
CHERISH ME(Jamie Melham) is also a place chance along with MY GLADIOLA (Jamie Mott) and THE PLAYWRIGHT (Regan Bayliss).
The G1 Oakleigh Plate is carded as S1-4 and will be run over 1100m at 1.55pm.
The pace will be good INSURRECTION and GOLDEN BOOM going forward from wide gates and HARD TO SAY also prominent early.
REY MAGNERIO (Jye McNeil) made a winning return in the Rubiton Stakes over this course and distance on 8 February. REY MAGNERIO should get a good run from gate five and will be charging home off a fast pace and is a win and place chance.
SHE’S BULLETPROOF (Craig Williams) is also a win and place chance. She comes into the race off a big win at Sandown and will be suited here with a light weight, along with GOLDEN BOOM (Damian Lane), ESTRIELLA (Blake Shinn) and JIMMYSSTAR (Ethan Brown).
Following the Caulfield meeting, seven races will be simulcast from Riyadh from 9.20pm starting with the G3 Saudi Derby (1600m).
Crowning a magnificent weekend of world-class international racing, Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup Day will take centre stage on Sunday (23 February) afternoon at Sha Tin with the appearances of KA YING RISING in the HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and VOYAGE BUBBLE in the HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m). Both races are part of our World Pool operation.
A special CEO Blog will be published on Sunday morning to reflect on ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s Saudi Cup performance and to assess the Group 1 double-header at Sha Tin.
Comment
