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| Staff Writer |
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Romantic Warrior is pleasing connections ahead of his first dirt assignment in Saturday's US$20m Saudi Cup, with trainer Danny Shum expressing satisfaction with his champion's preparation at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
The 10-time Group One winner, partnered by regular rider James McDonald, has adapted well to the surface according to his Hong Kong-based handler, though questions remain about how the Peter Lau-owned star will handle the kickback in his first dirt contest.
"I feel good about how he handled the dirt here and so did James, but the point is how he will handle the kickback and it's different for different horses," Shum said. "Some horses can handle it and others will shorten their stride. This is normal. You never know until they're past the winning post. He looks very fit. Physically, in all his career, this time he's the best in his life."
Drawing barrier three of 14 runners has boosted connections' confidence, with Shum noting: "That draw is really helpful because it's very flexible. I studied the last five years of The Saudi Cup and the first 200m are really fast. They just go American style."
Meanwhile, Spirit Dancer is back to defend his crown in the US$2m Howden Neom Turf Cup. The Richard Fahey-trained gelding, bred and part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, returns to the scene of his triumph last year.
Peter Fahey, assistant to his father, watched the Frankel gelding canter on Thursday and said: "It's the first time I've travelled with him. The owners loved it here last year and Ged Mason is coming across last minute.
Unfortunately one of Sir Alex's friends, John Hales, passed away so he can't make it."
He added: "The horse looks fantastic. He was a fraction disappointing last time in Hong Kong, but I suppose it was a different race, different tempo. He seems to like it here and in Bahrain. Shin Emperor is the obvious one and Joseph O'Brien has come double handed, but he's here and he deserves to take his chance."
Rattle N Roll, owned by Sharaf Mohamad Alhariri and Lucky Seven Stable, continued his preparation for the Saudi Cup with a routine canter. The Kenny McPeek-trained runner enters the contest in fine form, having landed the Gr.2 Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs before securing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup locally.
"We've approached him a little bit differently, the older he's become," McPeek explained. "I, admittedly, was pretty aggressive with him as a 3YO and even ran him back on seven days' rest and should have won both if not for a little traffic issue.
"We are now spacing his races more and I think he fires a bigger shot when we do that. I think, at this age for him, coming back with more time really benefits him."
The trainer reflected on past near-misses, saying: "This horse would probably be much more recognisable if he had been able to get into the Kentucky Derby, because that race ended up being a closer's race and he would have benefitted and of course, Rich Strike won that year and we were every bit as good as him, but we didn't get in."