As a nine-time Gr1 winner, and the world’s highest-earning racehorse, all eyes were on Romantic Warrior as he stepped out for the Gr1 Jebel Hatta (presented by Longines), one of the feature races of Meydan’s Fashion Friday meeting.
James Mcdonald steers Romantic Warrior to a superb victory (Pic -ERA)
The darling of Hong Kong racing didn’t disappoint in the 1800m turf contest, despite a serious challenge posted by Measured Time who was ten lengths clear at one stage. Jockey James McDonald didn’t panic, but sent Romantic Warrior in pursuit after the turn, gradually eating into the lead and taking up the race with consummate ease, winning by four and a half lengths from Poker Face, with Holloway Boy third.
The race was marred by the fatal injury to Measured Time, who broke down just before the line.
Romantic Warrior’s trained Danny Shum had been a little nervous in the build-up so was a relieved man afterwards.
“He’s a really good horse – he’s talented, smart and easy to look after,” he said. “I wasn’t worried during the race as I trust James, he’s a world class jockey.
“He [Romantic Warrior] is one of the best in the world. He’s got a good turn of foot, he can kick, and he listens to what the jockey asks him to do.
“He knows I love him, I love him a lot.”
Regarding the dirt and a possible Saudi Cup tilt, he added: “It’s a question. When he runs on the turf, I’m confident he can win, but I don’t know about the dirt. He’s trialled well on it in Hong Kong, but trials are trials.”
McDonald added: “He’s just a very good racehorse and he adapts to any circumstances during a race, to any pace and has a good turn of foot. He’s a very strong-minded horse.
“He could be a sprinter, that’s how fast he is. I was a bit worried as he was a little bit fresh in the parade ring but he found his cool going down to the start.
“He’s just a superstar.”
On Saudi, he said: “I don’t know if he’ll go on the dirt – it’s a completely different kettle of fish. He has a tremendous will to win, though, so that will get him far.”
If he does go to Riyadh, Romantic Warrior could face Walk Of Stars, who ran away with the Gr1 Al Maktoum Challenge (presented by Longines).
Bhupat Seemar’s six-year-old has been a revelation since adopting frontrunning tactics and did that again here under Tadhg O’Shea.
Coming off the home turn, he had the race won and although stablemate Imperial Emperor chased hard, there was three lengths between them at the line. Facteur Cheval, the 2024 G1 Dubai Turf winner, finished a gallant third on his dirt debut.
“He’s a big, powerful galloper,” said O’Shea. “He’s a front runner but he’s not a runaway – he’s always parking a little bit up in front.
“It was a great performance on the night and it’s great to get a Group 1 under his belt.”
Seemar, who now has an automatic Dubai World Cup entry for Walk Of Stars, added: “the owners [Athbah Stud] are from Saudi so I imagine they will want to go to the Saudi Cup.”
King Gold Shocks Laurel River
The night didn’t start so well for O’Shea, who suffered a shock defeat on Laurel River in a week which saw him crowned joint 2024 Longines World’s Best Racehorse.
His return in the Gr3 Firebreak Stakes (presented by Longines) was eagerly anticipated and the Dubai World Cup winner set blistering early fractions, but began to tire inside the final 200metres, with the chasing pack looming ever closer. They were headed by King Gold, who got there right on the line under Adrie de Vries, stealing the race and his first dirt win in a huge upset.
“I was shouting for second and so happy to be second to the world champion and then I couldn’t believe it, I won!” said an elated Marine Henry, wife and assistant to trainer Nicolas Caullery, who rides King Gold each day.
“He tried the dirt in 2022 and went so well on it so I’ve been saying since then we should go back on it. Today I was hoping he could be third as he felt so well to me in the morning.
“We will go for the G2 Godolphin Mile now and maybe run on Super Saturday [G3 Burj Nahaar] too.”
As for Laurel River, connections plan to proceed with their plan to go to the Saudi Cup, with Douglas Erskine Crum, Chief Executive of owners Juddmonte, saying: “He’s a very fast horse and he was very brave there, maybe a little too enthusiastic!
“We’ll go to the Saudi Cup – see you in Riyadh!”
Tuz Makes it Four in a Row
O’Shea can always rely on Tuz to deliver the goods, and the reigning G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner made it four wins in a row in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint (presented by Longines).
As usual, he managed to bag the rail in the 1200metre dirt contest but was made to work for the win this time, perennial bridesmaid Colour Up travelling strongly in behind. Sadly for him, it was second again, but this time just by three and a quarter lengths.
“He’s a machine around here,” said O’Shea. “He’s playing games with the opposition at the moment. He’s a jockey’s dream, a push button, and just a phenomenal racehorse.
“He had his ears pricked and if something had come to him, he’d have pulled out more.”
Successful Raid by Scott’s Sprinter
There was more European success in the Gr2 Blue Point Sprint (presented by Longines) when three-year-old West Acre beat his elders.
Trained in Newmarket by George Scott, the Callum Shepherd-ridden gelding was just touched off on his local debut but made amends here, coming with a late run to deny long-time leader Ponntos.
“It was a track record and an extraordinary performance,” said Scott. “He’s a lightly raced horse and we thought he’d come on for his last run. I wanted to come back to five [furlongs, 1000metres] because he’s all speed.
“He’s got a huge engine and hopefully w
e can keep him safe and sound for the rest of the season out here. The obvious programme would be to go for the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint on Super Saturday and the Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night.”
Golden Takes Aim at Saudi
Golden Vekoma is another bound for Riyadh and the Saudi Derby after his convincing win in the Gr3 UAE 2000 Guineas (presented by Longines).
The son of Vekoma won the trial for this race last time out and was every bit as professional here, having plenty in reserve when faced with a late challenge from favourite Heart Of Honor, who made up a lot of ground after slightly missing the break.
It was a first UAE 2000 Guineas win for both winning rider Connor Beasley and trainer Ahmad Bin Harmash.
“We have had good three-year-olds before but none for this distance,” said the handler. “We will go to the Saudi Derby next, because when you have a class horse, you have to try something different.”
“He’s a horse we’ve always thought a lot of and he’s a horse who’s only going to get better,” said Beasley. “He’s got the size, scope and looks to go with it. The world’s his oyster, really, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the second half of the season brings.
“He’s seen the mile out well there and he wasn’t stopping at the end. I think if something had come to him he’ll have pulled out even more.”
J-Mac’s Meydan Treble
Jockey James McDonald was officially the best jockey in the world in 2024 and prior to Romantic Warrior he put his talents to good use with a UAE win at the very first attempt on Marbaan.
The gelding collected his first local win in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort (presented by Longines) giving trainer Michael Costa a second Group 2 rvictory of the season.
McDonald timed his challenge perfectly, swooping on the outside late to beat 2024 race winner Mysterious Night by a length.
“He’s done so well since his run at Abu Dhabi,” said Costa. “He’s not the greatest trackworker at home but I think we’ve found his niche distance now.
“The instructions were to keep him smooth and everything went perfectly. The horse came in great order from the UK, so I’d like to thank his UK trainer [Charlie Fellowes] too.”
Costa and McDonald celebrated a double together when Keffaaf took the closing 2810metre turf G3 Al Khail Trophy (presented by Longines).
The six-year-old had to be brave in the closing stages, digging deep to hold off favourite King Of Conquest by a diminishing neck.
Unleashed has been the Arabian sensation of the season, and the six-year-old added to his Gr2 Madjani Stakes win with a taking success in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 (presented by Longines).
Ridden by Richie Mullen, Jaber Bittar’s charge had a commanding lead by the time they turned for home and broke his own track record for the 1900metres, winning in 2:06.60.
“He’s very uncomplicated. Previously he got himself behind and got a bit of kickback and I sent him on last year and he seems to thrive on being out in front.
“We had a good draw today but the most important part was getting out before the first bend. Even though there were horses around I was able to fill him up [with air] and was comfortable all the way round.
“The Kahayla Classic is only another half a furlong [100metres] so I think he will stay.”
The Dubai Racing Carnival continues next week, Friday 31 January, when the Gr3 Dubai Millennium Stakes is the feature.
