Romantic warrior starts desert campaign in Dubai

There's a lot going on in the eight races that make up the Fashion Friday program on January 24 at Dubai's Meydan Racecourse, including future plans for the Hong Kong star Romantic warrior which seeks to add the richest targets in the Middle East to previous conquests in Japan and Australia.

The card also features the long-awaited return of the 2024 Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Laurel River and an appearance by the winner of the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) 2024 Salt who looked forceful in two recent wins at Meydan.

Fashion Friday has probably replaced Super Saturday as the most significant start to the extensive Dubai World Cup program.

With the World Cup evening postponed by a week to April 5th and the Saudi Cup (G1) program postponed to February 22nd, the January 25th date was this season for Dubai-based runners most useful to test their strength. And that was before the Romantic Warrior's connections decided to utilize Fashion Friday as a stepping stone to the $20 million Saudi Cup.

Romantic Warrior, already a nine-time Group 1 winner, will contest the Jebel Hatta (G1T) over 1,800 meters (approx. 1 1/8 miles). It's not necessarily a build-up to Riyadh, as the heat in Dubai is played on the grass and the Saudi Cup is played on the highly regarded clay court at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

But it will give coach Danny Shum a clue as to how Romantic Warrior adjusts to the desert while facing tough competition.

Romantic Warrior has been inactive since recording a record third consecutive Hong Kong Cup (G1) victory on the Sha Tin Racecourse turf on December 8, and Shum said after the Post 1 draw for Jebel Hatta he believed that the seven-year-old will benefit from a run.

“I think he is 80 to 90 percent of his best,” Shum told the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

“In fact, he doesn't need to be in top form at the moment because our main target is the following two races. We don't have to push him too strenuous for his next race. This race is mainly to prepare him for the next two bigger goals.”

In addition to the Saudi Cup, this dance card would include either the Dubai World Cup or the Dubai Turf (G1T) on April 5 in Meydan, probably depending on the outcome of the clash against Riyadh.

James McDonald, the reigning Longines World's Best Jockey, is in town to ride Romantic Warrior. It's McDonald's first visit to Meydan and Shum said both horse and rider benefit from a little acclimatization.

“The most significant thing is that Romantic Warrior gets used to the track here,” said Shum. “Despite being the world's best jockey, James McDonald is riding in Dubai for the first time. Both the jockey and the horse are here for the first time so they need time to adjust.”

Also on the field is powerhouse duo Godolphin Measured time And Ottoman fleet as well as Holloway boy And Poker face all graded/group winners. Nevertheless, the Hong Kong star is a huge favorite in the overseas market due to his form and proven international success. There is no betting in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.

The Jebel Hatta is one of eight group races on the program, including the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1), an off-road preparation for the World Championships, and the UAE Two Thousand Guineas (G3), which previews the UAE Derby (G2) automatic qualification for the Kentucky Derby (G1).

The Maktoum Challenge involves the return of Kabir Khanthe Kentucky native who began his career in Russia and Kazakhstan and became the darling of the 2024 Dubai Carnival after winning this edition of the Maktoum Challenge. Now 5, the son of California chrome has not raced since his eighth-place finish with 18 runs at the 2024 World Championship.

If Kabirkhan doesn't get back in shape, Walk of the stars looks promising after winning The Entisar by 11 lengths on December 20 Highway who came second Forever youthful in the 2024 UAE derby.

And as for the Derby contenders, the Guineas had a crowded field with runners from Argentina, Uruguay, England and Ireland facing half a dozen of American descent. However, the race seems wide open Heart of honora Honor AP The Jamie Osborne-trained colt celebrates two wins in a row on the Meydan surface.

Also held are the Blue Point Sprint (G2T) and Al Fahidi Fort (G2T), both on turf, at 1,000 meters (approximately five furlongs) and 1,400 meters (approximately seven furlongs) respectively, as well as the Al Shindagha Sprint (G3) and Firebreak Stakes (G3), both on unpaved terrain, at 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) and 1,600 meters (about a mile). The Al Khail Trophy (G3T) over 1 3/4 miles on turf crowns the card as the ninth race.

In a 10-horse field there are no standouts for the Blue Point Sprint, while the Al Fahidi Fort field is dominated by Godolphin Native approach And Mysterious night . Epic poet And King of Conquest just a neck apart when finishing last in Meydan conditions 1-2 on January 3, rematch at Al Khail.

Salta dominant 8 year vintage son of Oxbow has a forceful lead in the Al Shindagha, having won the Dubawi Stakes (G3) by 4 3/4 lengths in his last start for trainer Bhupat Seemar.

Laurel Rivera once-in-a-lifetime Southern California force for Bob Baffert, is an equally huge favorite in the Firebreak. This race, also trained by Seemar, is clearly a starting point for the veteran, who was recently named the world's best racehorse of 2024, tied with Longines City of Troy with a rating of 128 for his win at the Dubai World Cup.