Despite all actions and high operations that are offered by world-class races at the Saudi Arabia Cup meeting 2025 in two days, one question ultimately matters.
Can Romantic warrior Appear as well on the dirt as on the lawn?
If the answer is, the 7-year-old gelding, based in Hong Kong, will add a good victory in 11th group 1 in his already amazing record and extend his career gain record by the Saudi Cup (G1) share of $ 10 million on the Saudi Cup (G1) Anturse.
And even if the answer is no, the crowd on the racetrack of King Abdulaziz in Riad, Saudi Arabia on February 22, still gathers in a treat, since the race also contains winners of group 1 from other points of the compass.
Remarkable among them is Forever newborn who won the Saudi derby of 2024 in a remarkable stretch battle and won the VAE derby (G2) and took third place in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
The Saudi Cup was on February 21 as a proven qualification game for the Breeder's 'Cup Classic of this autumn as part of the Breeders' '' Cup Challenge series: Win and You In in.
In addition, cup such as 2023 G1 Dubai World Cup (G1) is set up in the 1,800-meter cup (approx. 1 1/8 miles) cup such as 2023 G1 Dubai World Cup Tamba Tororo Present Wilson TesoroAnd Ramjet All proven dirt runners from Japan; Horse factor from France; And Rassle n roll from the United States.
Ace Dubai trainer Bhupat Semar brings Change stars Fresh from a win in the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) in his home route. Elite South American runners EL director represents his continent in the cup field.
Trainer Kenny McPene sent St. Louis Derby winner Rattle N Roll after Saudi -Arabia early and passed the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Gulfstream Park In favor of a local qualification for the Saudi. The 6-year-old won this with ease.
“We wanted to bring him last year, but the timing wasn't right,” said McPeek on February 19, after drawing Gate 7 in a 14th field. “We gave him time this year and it worked great. And he seems to like this track well.”
The rest of the gate fills up with less credit, but long chances have been overcome in this breed.
Nevertheless, attention focuses on romantic warriors. He did everything to have asked him from owner Peter Lau, coach Danny Shum and Jockey James McDonald. In 2023 he won the Cox plate (G1) in Australia. In 2024 he won the Yasuda Kinen (G1) in Japan and added Dubai to his list of conquest in January, with a record performance in Jebel Hatta (G1)-Alles, while they broke up seven group 1 victories at home, and many of them against the international top level competition against the top level international competition.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club sets its income with a global record of around 22.8 million US dollars or $ 179.7 million – not bad for a horse that was bought from the international sale of Lau 2021 Hong Kong for 4.8 million HKU.
But that was all on lawn.
Owners, coaches and jockey everyone says that they believe that romantic warriors can be just as good on the up-to-date surface. And Lau said about the HKJC before going to Riad that if he can, he can dominate the cup.
“If it can fit the dirt, I think that his class is not lower than with the other horses,” said Lau. “My prediction is that it will not be too close. If we are not suitable on the dirt, it may become the fourth, fifth or in the middle. But when we are as good on the dirt as on the lawn, I think we are very arduous to beat.”
McDonald gave the romantic warrior his last quick work on February 19 in the course of the course and had nothing negative to say about the surface or the affinity of his mount.
“I haven't driven too many dirt tracks,” said McDonald, recently for Longine's World's best jockey from 2024, “so I can't really compare too many. But he seemed to deal with it.
Team Romantic Warrior is not only in his assessment. Even the competition takes it out as the one who is to be beat with a careful eye on the rest of the talented field.
“The romantic warrior should be the greatest danger, but he is not the only rival for us,” said Yoshito Yahagi forever.
Yahagi, who is known to racing facilities around the world as “the man in the hat” for his colorful headgear, should know. His international triumphs include twin wins in the Breeders' Cup World Championships and four at the Saudi Cup meeting, including the 2023 Cup itself Panthalassa .
Forever Newborn will have to beat the romantic warrior from different parts of the start gate. The romantic warrior moved early in the elaborate drawing procedure post 3. A little later, Forever Newborn was relegated in Gate 14.
None of the coaches seemed to be too concerned with the different running styles of their horses and the long gap to the sole turn.
Forever newborn on King Abdulaziz Rennbahn
The leading local hope in the cup is Al Musmak Formerly trained by Roger Varian in England and now managed by the leading trainer Thamer Aldaihani for up-to-date Saudi owners. He reflects the handicaping of his rivals.
“I saw Romantic Warrior's races. He is number one in the world, a very good horse. If he is good with the dirt, nobody can beat him,” said Aldaihani. “After two Furlongs, you will know whether romantic warriors can win or not. He has to jump out of the goal and continue the pace, sit in a good position.”
But coaches are not paid for as pessimists, and Aldaihani allows the same from Al Musmak.
“When he runs like in England and he works very well on the dirt – like romantic warrior – the race between romantic warrior and Al Musmak will be sure,” said Aldaihani and added, “Only forever is a very good horse.”
