Soul Rush pips Romantic Warrior to win G1 Dubai Turf
DUBAI - Romantic Warrior's quest for Hong Kong racing history was denied in extraordinary circumstances at Meydan on April 5, when Danny Shum's champion was thwarted by the barest possible margin by Japan's Soul Rush in the US$5 million (S$6.73 million) Group 1 Dubai Turf (1,800m).
In front until virtually the last stride, Romantic Warrior was claimed by Soul Rush ($71) and jockey Cristian Demuro, who could scarcely believe Yasutoshi Ikee's charge had timed his lunge to perfection to post the most important win of his career.
"It's as good a performance as he's ever produced, he beat the best horse in the world today," said Demuro, after he drove Soul Rush out of a chasing pack to cut down Romantic Warrior by a nose in 1min 45.84sec, with Maljoom (Tom Marquand) in third.
"It is a special win because we are now part of the Romantic Warrior story. He doesn't lose many races but today, he found a good horse."
Jockey James McDonald and Shum had to endure an agonising wait before the judges declared Soul Rush the winner after speculation whirled of a possible dead heat.
A regular competitor at Sha Tin where he has tasted defeat in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1,600m) to Golden Sixty and Voyage Bubble, Soul Rush avenged his loss to Romantic Warrior in the 2024 Group 1 Yasuda Kinen (1,600m) where he ran third.
McDonald was crushed after Romantic Warrior's bid to add to his bulging haul of 10 Group 1s - the Hong Kong Cup (2022, 2023 & 2024), Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2022, 2023 & 2024) and 2024 Hong Kong Gold Cup and three more in Australia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates - had come up desperately short.
"He's had a long campaign. He ran his heart out," a downcast McDonald said.
Resuming for the first time since an equally heart-breaking second to Forever Young in the Group 1 Saudi Cup (1,800m) on Feb 22, Romantic Warrior showcased his incredible quality and toughness in defeat.
After jumping cleanly from barrier 9, the son of Acclamation sat in third place. McDonald set the seven-year-old alight entering the straight and led by more than a length at the 200m, only to be overhauled by Soul Rush.
Romantic Warrior's painful second followed Howdeepisyourlove's mishap in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) after he suffered a leg injury near the 450m when mounting his challenge.
McDonald immediately eased down Howdeepisyourlove and dismounted as Believing sped away under William Buick to win her first Group 1 race. Howdeepisyourlove was humanely euthanised after being assessed at the Dubai Equine Hospital.
The Frankie Lor-trained Sword Point finished last in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile (1,600m) under McDonald, as Frankie Dettori drove Doug O'Neill's Raging Torrent to a comfortable victory.
All eyes were on leading Japanese contender Forever Young in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup (2,000m), but it was US runner Hit Show ($211) who hogged the limelight after weaving his way through the Meydan straight to run down fellow American-bred Mixto (Dettori) in the US$12 million feature.
Ridden by Ryusei Sakai, Forever Young never appeared entirely comfortable in transit, but the Real Steel colt did his best work late to run third.
Connections had high expectations after he beat Romantic Warrior at his last win in the Saudi Cup, hence they felt let down by the results.
"We had to win this race and I am disappointed," said Sakai.
"He ran a great race in Saudi (Cup) and I expected him to win if he ran his race. We did our best but he wasn't travelling at all. It wasn't an easy race and it's hard to keep winning."
Said trainer Yoshito Yahagi: "We were the away team and Forever Young got worked up because of it. That's no excuse though."
Hit Show has earned his trip to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic (2,000m) at Del Mar, California on Nov 1. Trainer Brad Cox indicated that all roads would lead to the American showpiece for the Candy Ride five-year-old.
"We always knew that ground was his thing, the further the better. He's a classy horse and now he's a Dubai World Cup winner," he said.
"He ran a great race in California and it set him up well. The mile and a quarter is his trip. He ran well in the Kentucky Derby and out to a mile and a half in the Belmont (Stakes) but he hasn't got out in trip properly until his last two starts."
Hit Show's win took French jockey Florent Geroux by surprise.
"Only at the 100m did I think I could win! Forever Young was my target but he was not travelling at all," he said.
"I was running for a place and he gave me more. I can't quite believe it. I'll take it though!"
HKJC/DUBAI RACING CLUB
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