James McDonald is confident Romantic Warrior is ready to produce another top performance in Saturday’s Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m) six weeks after his Herculean second in the Group One Saudi Cup (1,800m) on dirt.
The 10-time Group One winner, who returns to the Meydan course and distance of his track-record blitz in January’s Group One Jebel Hatta (1,800m), continues to thrive after more than three months in the Middle East.
“It seems like he’s taken no side effects from Saudi, he’s bounced out of it well – all guns blazing, really,” said New Zealander McDonald, who is missing two Group One meetings in Sydney to ride in Dubai.
“I don’t think he’s taken a backward step from Saudi so hopefully he runs well.
James McDonald chats to the media at Meydan on Wednesday.
“He seems to love it here in Dubai – how can you not? It’s a great place. He seems to be very happy, healthy and he’s working well.”
After taking a sit from gate one in the Jebel Hatta, trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing is confident Romantic Warrior again has options this weekend after landing gate nine at Wednesday morning’s barrier draw at Meydan.
“Gate nine is not a problem. He’s flexible. If he gets a fast pace, [McDonald] can give him a chance to settle. If the race is slow, he can sit close,” said Shum, adding that he was thrilled with his superstar’s final piece of fast work on the Meydan turf on Tuesday morning.
“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.
Roll on the Dubai Turf! 💙
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 1, 2025
Romantic Warrior glides through his grass gallop with @mcacajamez ahead of Saturday's G1 in Dubai... 👏
📍 Meydan, 5 Apr | @RacingDubai pic.twitter.com/sNKTBisZDr
“James gave me a very positive report. He said the horse is very fit. He loves the horse. The horse loves it here and he is very happy here.”
Romantic Warrior will have plenty of time to find a position down the long back straight in a race featuring reigning Dubai Turf champion Facteur Cheval, Godolphin’s Nations Pride and a pair of Japanese gallopers who finished runner-up at December’s Hong Kong International Races – Liberty Island and Soul Rush.
“This race is a stronger race than what he competed in in January here but he’s very good,” said McDonald, who will also ride Howdeepisyourlove and Sword Point for Hong Kong on Saturday night.
“He’s a horse that thrives on high pressure and obviously the tougher the races, the better he goes, as we’ve found out over the years.
Danny Shum among the media scrum at Meydan on Wednesday morning.
“He’ll be up for the challenge again. Obviously, it’s a very competitive race with some very strong contenders and he’ll have to be at his brilliant best.
“I think if he runs up to the Jebel Hatta run, he’ll be very hard to beat.”
Romantic Warrior is the red-hot Dubai Turf favourite in fixed-odds markets and Howdeepisyourlove is also proving popular in betting for the Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) down the Meydan straight.
Considered around a $3 chance, Howdeepisyourlove will look to land a second consecutive Al Quoz Sprint victory for Hong Kong after the success of California Spangle 12 months ago.
Howdeepisyourlove works at Meydan on Wednesday morning.
“It seems OK, he should be able to get a clear run from there,” said trainer John Size after Howdeepisyourlove joined Romantic Warrior in drawing gate nine.
“The horse gets back in the field a little bit and hopefully he’s a late finisher and that should probably suit him.
“The horse is in pretty good shape and he’s travelled well. He looks good and he’s done his work properly.
“He continues to do well, so I think the race is coming up at the right time and it’s a matter of circumstances on the day for these sort of events.”
Hong Kong’s final runner on Dubai World Cup night, the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained Sword Point, will jump from gate two in the Group Two Godolphin Mile on the dirt.
