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| Staff Writer |
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ROMANTIC WARRIOR, already a globe-trotting sensation, is being primed for an audacious Middle Eastern campaign targeting three of the world's richest races.
Fresh from completing a historic hat-trick in the Hong Kong Cup, the Danny Shum-trained superstar has surpassed Golden Sixty as Hong Kong's highest earner, adding another glittering chapter to his remarkable story.
The 6YO's adaptability has been proven at the highest level, with victories in Australia's Gr.1 Cox Plate and Japan's Gr.1 Yasuda Kinen already in his trophy cabinet.
Connections are eyeing a bold three-race strategy, with departure scheduled for January 17. The initial target could be either the Gr.2 Maktoum Challenge or the Gr.1 Jebel Hatta, followed by the Saudi Cup before returning to Dubai for World Cup night on April 5.
Previous winners of the Dubai World Cup include Thunder Snow, who claimed back-to-back victories in 2018 and 2019, while California Chrome (2016) and Arrogate (2017) also etched their names into the record books with memorable triumphs.
"He's pulled up well and he's very happy," Shum told the Dubai Racing Club. "He's already travelled, he went to Australia last year and Japan. His owner Peter Lau really wants to go to the Middle East, so of course we are thinking about Dubai."
The trainer added: "He is such an easy horse. He loves his racing, especially when James McDonald is on board, he's an amazing horse. We think he can handle the dirt but he's never raced on it, so fingers crossed he can handle it."
The ambitious schedule could see Romantic Warrior contest either the US$12 million Dubai World Cup or the US$5 million Dubai Turf on World Cup night, with connections set to make a final decision closer to the time.