Saudi Cup to be Warrior's only crack at dirt
RIYADH Romantic Warrior is likely to get one lifetime shot on dirt, his trainer Danny Shum has revealed with the worlds' highest-earning racehorse set to return to turf after contesting the US$20 million (S$27 million) Saudi Cup in Riyadh on Feb 22.
The three-time Hong Kong Cup winner jetted into Saudi Arabia from Dubai on the morning of Feb 10, ahead of a first outing away from grass, after blitzing the field to break the track record in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta (1,800m) at Meydan on Jan 24.
Shum and owner Peter Lau could have tested the winner of 18 of his 23 starts and over US$18 million in prize money on dirt in Dubai in January, but will instead roll the dice at King Abdulaziz racecourse in the Group 1 over 1,800m – when the world's richest horse contests the world's richest race.
"Wherever we finish in the Saudi Cup it is 99 per cent certain he will run next in the Dubai Turf," Shum explained after seeing Romantic Warrior settle into the international quarantine facilities.
"The Dubai Racing Club have already accepted my entry for the Dubai Turf but not the Dubai World Cup yet, as we want to see how Romantic Warrior finishes the race here, but he will almost certainly go for the turf race."
Romantic Warrior left Hong Kong soon after landing his historic treble at Sha Tin under the Longines World's Best Jockey, James McDonald, and Shum soon followed on an exploratory visit to the Middle East to have a look at the Riyadh dirt.
He sought counsel about the surface switch from as many different sources as possible, including the legendary former jockey Mick Kinane, but a meeting between owner and trainer determined Romantic Warrior's path to potential stardom in Saudi Arabia.
"It wasn't an easy decision for the owner as we missed the Gold Cup and Stewards' Cup in Hong Kong," said Shum. "If we stayed there we could win on the turf easily, but Peter really wanted to try the challenge of the world's richest race and come to The Saudi Cup, and we are really looking forward to it.
"James, Peter and I discussed about running first on dirt in the Al Maktoum Challenge and thought that might be better.
"But Peter and I had a lunch meeting and he made a very good point. He said we should run on the turf in Dubai as he could have a (bad) experience on the dirt there, and that the Dubai and Saudi dirt is different. He could win or run really well in Dubai, but that doesn't mean he can run well in Saudi.
"So we went to the Jebel Hatta knowing we can win easily – and we will keep the dirt a secret. Maybe he will be very good on it, or maybe he can't handle it – but we won't be disappointed if he loses so long as he is happy and sound."
Shum and his team in Hong Kong have built up a close relationship with Romantic Warrior. Staff have updated his Dubai work and swims with daily videos.
"I am so lucky to have him and he is so good to my stable," said Shum. "As a trainer I am lucky to have a horse like him and I love him. And the horse loves me and the team.
"I want to keep him for as long as possible – not for the money but because we love each other. I love to see him and feed him carrots and he's then so happy."
Romantic Warrior is a regular traveller after collecting a Cox Plate and Yasuda Kinen with visits to Australia and Japan in addition to his Dubai heroics, but Shum sees his future closer to home.
"I talked to the owner before I left and he probably won't run overseas any more and we will keep him in Hong Kong for three or four races every season," he added. "Keep him healthy and happy and hopefully he can do good." JOCKEY CLUB OF SAUDI ARABIA
