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| Staff Writer |
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Dubai First Stop
World's Best Jockey James McDonald is embarking on an ambitious Middle East campaign with superstar Romantic Warrior, starting with the Gr.1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan next week before targeting further riches in Saudi Arabia and potentially a return to Dubai.
The nine-time Group One winner, trained by Danny Shum Chap-shing, is setting out to add to his record-breaking earnings of US$22.6 million, beginning his international assault in the 1,800m contest on January 24.
"It's bloody exciting getting back on his back," McDonald said. "We'll give him a gallop on the turf on Tuesday morning, then obviously into the big dance on Friday night. It's a new challenge for him but as he's proven in the past, he's overcome those challenges and I'm sure it will be no different this time. They're very happy with him."
Connections are plotting an audacious plan following the Jebel Hatta, with the US$20 million Saudi Cup on the Riyadh dirt firmly in their sights, before a potential return to Dubai for either the Gr.1 Dubai World Cup or Gr.1 Dubai Turf.
The timing is creating a logistical puzzle for the team, with the Saudi Cup running on February 22, just one day before Sha Tin's Group One Gold Cup meeting.
"I'm yet to work out all the logistics of that and I'm sure there will be a way," McDonald said. "Danny would probably like to get back for that meeting as well, so we'll work through that and see what we come up with."
Before heading to Dubai, McDonald is taking aim at a Group One double at Sha Tin on Sunday, partnering defending champion Voyage Bubble in the Gr.1 Stewards' Cup and Howdeepisyourlove in the Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup.
"He's a ripping horse and he's an absolute dude to ride," McDonald said of the Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Voyage Bubble. "He's trialled well after his great performance international week and he'll be tough to beat again."
The Stewards' Cup field features eight runners, including the improving Patch Of Theta and three-time Group One winner California Spangle, with six contestants returning from last month's Hong Kong Mile. Voyage Bubble is attempting to join Always Plentiful, Electronic Unicorn and Good Ba Ba as back-to-back winners of the prestigious mile contest.
In the Sprint Cup, McDonald reunites with the John Size-trained Howdeepisyourlove, following Zac Purton's winning ride aboard the gelding in the Gr.3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy over 1,000m. "We are bumping into two very good horses, Ka Ying Rising and Helios Express," McDonald noted. "I expect him to run extremely well but those two have had his measure in the past and look really hard to beat again."
His Sunday rides also include Hong Kong Derby prospect Romantic Thor, owned by Peter Lau Pak-fai, in the Class Two Able Friend Handicap over 2,000m.
The Middle East campaign includes McDonald's Saudi Arabia debut in the International Jockeys Challenge at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on February 21. The recently crowned Longines World's Best Jockey, with 106 Group One victories across five countries, joins an elite roster featuring John Velazquez, Hollie Doyle, Christophe Soumillon, Rachel King, defending champion Maryline Eon, and inaugural winner Sibylle Vogt in the seven male and seven female rider competition.