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| Staff Writer |
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Romantic Warrior heads to Riyadh with his regular pilot James McDonald exuding quiet confidence ahead of the US$20 million Saudi Cup, where the globe-trotting star faces his first competitive test on dirt.
The three-time Hong Kong Cup victor has been stationed in Dubai since December, arriving in Saudi Arabia on Monday following his track-record performance in the Jebel Hatta. Danny Shum's charge has maintained his weight through the journey, dropping just one pound of feed.
"He has trotted up sound and all the reports are very good as the first day he normally leaves a dipper, so Danny says, so he has travelled well," McDonald reports.
Despite the surface being uncharted territory, McDonald remains optimistic about the 7YO's chances. "The one thing we are grasping on is that he has trialled really well in Hong Kong on dirt. I know it is a completely different dirt, but he has gone particularly well on it and that is a little inkling that he might adapt pretty well."
The Sydney-based rider, who has secured nine Group One victories aboard the Peter Lau-owned gelding, adds: "If there is one horse in the world who I think can transfer his turf form to the dirt it is Romantic Warrior, as he has an incredible heart and an incredible will to win and a great racing style as well."
Having conquered top-flight events across Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and Dubai, the versatile performer occasionally shows his enthusiasm during his travels. "He can get over excited at times when he is a little bit above himself and we saw that in Dubai," McDonald explains. "Everyone was probably a little worried going out to that race as he was very on his toes."
The New Zealand native continues: "He was very fresh and it was new surroundings and that is what he was like in Japan, but in Hong Kong he is an absolute lamb. You can get two different types of him but he is a very gentle giant and is very good to do anything with, but when it comes to work and the races he has got the eye of a tiger and a phenomenal will to win."
Looking ahead to both the Saudi Cup and a return to Meydan for the Dubai Turf, McDonald issues a stark warning to rivals: "I just feel like he is getting better and better at the moment so there is no reason why he can't be the horse to beat in Saudi, and the horse to beat back in Dubai in a month's time. He is still on an upwards spiral and at the peak of his powers at the moment."