The challenge of achieving success at international level should never be under-estimated and ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s effort to finish fourth in the G1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington today (7 October) again proved how difficult it is for even the very best horses to compete away from home.
Having his first start since May, ROMANTIC WARRIOR had to concede weight and fitness to all 15 rivals, while racing left-handed for the first time on a course he had galloped on only once previously, eventually finishing fourth and beaten just under four lengths – but he was beaten fair and square.
While the performance was a touch disappointing, ROMANTIC WARRIOR was unsuited by the modest mid-race tempo and seemed to peak on his run late after racing keenly, suggesting he will benefit from the run ahead of the G1 Cox Plate (2040m) on 28 October.
Trainer Danny Shum and James McDonald suggested there was no reason to panic following the race and it should be remembered the winner GOLD TRIP is a high-class horse, having run fourth in the 2020 G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as a three-year-old behind SOTTSASS.
Since transferring to Australia, Gold Trip has overcome a long absence from the track before winning the G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and almost winning a G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) – two of Australia’s premier handicaps.
GOLD TRIP will be hard to beat in the Cox Plate, but ROMANTIC Warrior will meet his conqueror at equal weights and with improved fitness – two factors which will hearten Danny and James.
Our World Pool programme continues with the G1 Gran Premio Latinoamericano, which is carded as S3-1 at 4.45am on Sunday morning from San Isidro Racecourse in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Gran Premio Latinoamericano was inaugurated in 1981 and is the richest race held in South America. It is a unique event rotating through Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay and held both on dirt and turf surfaces.
The pace in the race will be strong from the start with NATAN, CALLEJERO and DOUTUR SURENO likely to be in the leading division from their inside gates. The local team is always hard to beat and IRWIN represents the main chance for Argentina. He was a dominant winner at Group Two level over 1600m on 15 July on rain-affected going and then came away for an easy five-length win over STAR GALAN in the major lead-up race over this course and distance on 25 August.
IRWIN won the Guineas and Derby in his three-year-old season before contesting the UAE Derby. He is back to his best form and will be ridden by Wilson Moreyra, who won this race on ROMAN ROSSO in 2018. IRWIN is my win and place selection.
NATAN also represents a strong hope for Argentina. He ran on this day last year winning the G1 Gran Premio Jockey Club on objection. He has only raced twice since but showed he was in good form when winning the G1 Estrellas Classic at this course and distance on 24 June. NATAN will be prominent from is inside gate and is a place chance. Peru boasts an excellent record in the race having won it nine times before and their star mare SAMAY looks a leading contender. She has been beaten only once in 11 career starts and raced away to win a Group One mares’ race by seven lengths on 25 June. SAMAY then took on the males and easily beat DON’T LOSE TIME and DON FERES over this trip on 26 August. SAMAY has drawn ideally in gate three and is a place chance.
DOUTUR SURENO has been in brilliant form in Brazil, winning his last five starts and capped his preparation for this race with a hard-fought victory at Cidade Jardim on 5 August. That race was run in quick overall time and with a good draw in gate five, Jose Severo should have DOUTUR SURENO ready to strike and he is a place chance.
At Sha Tin on Sunday, the Yan Chai Trophy is a Class 2 Handicap over 1400 metres, carded as Race 8 at 4.35pm with prizemoney of HK$2,840,000.
The speed in the race will be good with SAUVESTRE and SUPREME LUCKY, drawn alongside each other, both looking to find the front. MR ASCENDENCY has drawn gate three and should be prominent, with KEEFY also going forward.
FIND MY LOVE won twice over this course and distance last season. He resumed on 10 September when closing well for second to THE GOLDEN SCENERY. FIND MY LOVE should be suited by the strong pace and will get a perfect run for Keith Yeung from his inside gate. He is a place chance.
SUPREME LUCKY is building an imposing record having won four of his nine runs including his victory on 10 September when resuming. SUPREME LUCKY was ridden to find the front and fought on strongly in the straight to hold off COMPASSION SPIRIT. Zac should have him in front or outside the leader and is a place chance extending to the 1400m for the first time.
DANCING CODE made a winning return to the track when he settled in the back half of the field and was hard ridden from a long way out before responding magnificently in the closing stages to beat BEAUTY GLORY at Happy Valley over 1200m last start. DANCING CODE should be suited by the strong pace and extra distance and despite rising in class is a win and place chance for Vincent Ho.
THE GOLDEN SCENERY beat FIND MY LOVE first up over 1400m before staying on to finish third to HEALTHY HAPPY and CIRCUIT STELLAR in the Celebration Cup on 24 September. Brenton Avdulla will have THE GOLDEN SCENERY in a handy position from the rails draw and is a place chance.
There are a number of other chances in a very competitive race including NIMBLE NIMBUS, who has finished in the top five at his past 20 starts and resumes here with Andrea Atzeni aboard.
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