Again it’s the world elite who assemble at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, and it’s the might of Hong Kong and Japan who are headlining the $20m Saudi Cup.
Headed by the world’s leading earner in Romantic Warrior, it was twice Longines World’s Best jockey James McDonald who stated “we’re happy with that” in drawing Gate 3 of the 14 runners.
“We didn’t come here with any expectation of a particular draw, as he seems to be going really well on the dirt, all the team are very happy with him and my horse has really good gate speed.”
With Romantic Warrier being a last start winner of the Jebel Hatta of 1800m on turf, its now ‘converting his incredible turf performances across international jurisdictions to the Riyadh dirt.’
In winning the Jebel Hatta with Longines, by an easy 4½ lengths at Meydan on 24 January, its trainer Danny Shum stating “he’s a talented horse” with the world’s richest race run over 1800m.
“He loves it here and has settled well, so we’ll keep him cantering up to the race, sitting behind travelling stablemate Romantic Charm – he’s done enough and he’s very fit for The Saudi Cup.”
So, with Danny Shum pleased with the Tuesday blowout and regular jockey James McDonald in the irons, while 24 hours later he hacked an easy circuit before returning to the quarantine.
Now with an astonishing record of 18 wins from 23 starts and, best said HK$178,668m in prize money, Romantic Warrior was Hong Kong Horse of The Year in 2024 for owner Peter Lau Pak Fai.
Also the Hong Kong Middle Distance Champion for the last three seasons, he finished equal third to City of Troy and Via Sistina in the Longines 2024 World Best Intermediate Turf Racehorse.
Purchased by Peter Lau for HK4.8m at the Hong Kong International Sale, he was sourced for the HK Jockey Club by Mick Kinane for 300,000gns at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
Bred in Ireland by Tim Rooney and David Egan of Corduff Stud, Romantic Warrior is now a 7yo gelding by the top-sire Acclamation, from the immediate family of Folk Opera and Mr Bailetti.
Again, its Japanese challenger Forever Young who returns a year after winning the $1.5m Saudi Derby, and in drawing the outside Gate 14, its trainer Yoshito Yahagi who’s not disappointed.
“I haven’t worried about the draw too much but I’d prefer an outside gate to inside,” said Yoshito, who in May had Forever Young a ‘nose’ third to Mystic Dan in the 150th Kentucky Derby.
In going on to claim last year’s UAE Derby, and qualify for the ‘Run For The Roses,’ he’ll again ridden by Ryusei Sakal and was a last start winner of the Toyko Daishoten 2000m by 1¾ lengths.
Also third to Sierra Leone the Breeders’ Cup Classic and winning the Japan Dirt Classic, he’s the first crop of the Dubai Cup winner Rustic Steel, being a ¥98m 2022 JHRA Select Foal graduate.
In rounding out the big three is the ‘Man of 2024’ in Kenneth McPeek having Rattle N Roll starting from Gate 7 for Joel Rosario and owners Sharaf Mohamad Alhariri and Lucky Seven Stable.
“We like the seven, that’s great,” he said. “He’s got come-from-behind pace, we’re excited to have the horse here and we feel like we’ve a bit of an advantage because he won here already.”
“This year the timing worked out really well, he came back bigger, stronger and better and this will be a race that I think will be ideal for him,” having earlier won the Two Holy Mosques Cup.
Of course, 2024 was the year for Kenny McPeek with his Kentucky Oaks heroine Thorpedo Anna being crowned Cartier US Horse of The Year and Mystic Dan winning the 15th Kentucky Derby.
In rounding out the $20m Saudi Cup, its the Al Maktoum Challenge, with Longines winner Walk Of Stars who has drawn Gate 6, while the race third placed French trained Facteur Cheval jumps from Gate 12.
