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| Staff Writer |
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Romantic Warrior, last year's Hong Kong Horse of the Year, is returning to his favoured turf surface in Saturday's US$5 million Gr.1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Racecourse after an impressive runner-up effort on dirt in Saudi Arabia.
The 10-time Group One winner, trained by Danny Shum, delivered a memorable performance when switching to dirt in the US$20 million Gr.1 Saudi Cup last month, where he was narrowly edged by Forever Young in a thrilling finish.
"He's happy and he's in good form," Shum said at Meydan, noting that while Romantic Warrior lost "to the best dirt horse in the world," he gave his connections and fans a memorable moment. "I'm really looking forward to Saturday. The Dubai fans really love Romantic Warrior and (we're thankful) for their support."
Though making his debut on the Dubai World Cup card, Romantic Warrior is no stranger to Meydan, having posted a commanding 4¼-length victory in the Gr.1 Jebel Hatta over the same course in January.
Standing in his path is last year's Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval, who returns to defend his crown for North American-based owners Team Valor International and Gary Barber. The versatile performer, who also contested the Saudi Cup finishing seventh, has accumulated more than US$4.8 million in career earnings across four seasons of racing.
The turf action continues with four grass contests on the Dubai World Cup programme, headlined by the US$6 million Gr.1 Dubai Sheema Classic where two-time Breeders' Cup Turf Winner Rebel's Romance aims to defend his title.
The Godolphin homebred, who has amassed over US$12.2 million in career earnings, enters the 2,410-metre contest on a three-race winning streak across three different continents. His stretch of success includes a neck victory in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar, which secured the son of Dubawi champion turf male honours.
Both the Dubai Turf and Sheema Classic serve as automatic qualifiers for the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, with winners earning berths to the Breeders' Cup Mile and Breeders' Cup Turf respectively.
The US$1.5 million Gr.1 Al Quoz Sprint, contested over a straight 1,200 metres, features 2024 Gr.1 Lockinge Stakes winner Audience bidding for a fourth group success. The Cheveley Park homebred, making his first start outside England, is trained by John and Thady Gosden.
South African-bred Isivunguvungu, now trained in America by Graham Motion, adds international intrigue to the sprint. A champion in his native country, his victory would spark celebrations across continents.
"The tongue-twistingly named sprinter (it means storm in isiXhosa) was bred and is owned in South Africa, trained by a U.S.-based Brit, and will be ridden by a French-based Belgian (Christophe Soumillon)," noted the Dubai Racing Club.
Rounding out the turf action is the US$1 million Gr.2 Dubai Gold Cup over 3,200 metres, where Godolphin's Trawlerman attempts to improve on last year's third-place finish in the staying contest.
The Dubai World Cup card's quartet of turf contests promises top-class international competition, with Romantic Warrior's return to grass the highlight for many racing enthusiasts following his eye-catching dirt debut in Saudi Arabia.