After delivering a memorable runner-up performance in his first try on dirt, 10-time grade/group 1 winner Romantic Warrior will return to grass racing when he starts in the $5 million Dubai Turf (G1T) April 5 at Meydan Racecourse.
The Dubai Turf is one of four grass races planned for Saturday’s Dubai World Cup (G1) card.
In his previous start owner Peter Lau Pak Fai and trainer Danny Shum asked Romantic Warrior to try something new by entering him in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1). The 2024 Hong Kong Horse of the Year proved up to the task on dirt, battling Forever Young through the stretch before being edged by that one at the wire of the lucrative test Feb. 22.
The one-two finishers from the Saudi Cup will be in action Saturday at Meydan but Forever Young will go off as the likely favorite in the featured race while Romantic Warrior returns to turf in the 1,800-meter (about 1 1/8-mile) Dubai Turf where he will be favored.
“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.”
This will be Romantic Warrior’s first start on the Dubai World Cup card but he has raced on the course. In January he posted a 4 1/4-length win in the Jebel Hatta (G1T).
Last year’s Dubai Turf winner, Facteur Cheval , will look to knock off Romantic Warrior and repeat for the North American-based ownership of Team Valor International and Gary Barber. Facteur Cheval, who also gave the Saudi Cup a try, finishing seventh, has earned more than $4.8 million in four seasons of racing.
In Saturday’s other four turf races on the Dubai World Cup card:
- Two-time Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) winner Rebel’s Romance will attempt to add to his more than $12.2 million in career earnings when he starts in the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T) where he will aim to defend his two-length victory from 2024.
Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post Rebel’s Romance
A Godolphin homebred, Rebel’s Romance enters Saturday’s 2,410-meter (about 1 1/2-mile) test off three straight stakes wins—contested on three different continents. That stretch that includes his neck victory in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar. That win secured the son of Dubawi champion turf male honors.
- In the $1.5 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1T) contested at a straight 1,200 meters (about six furlongs), 2024 Lockinge Stakes (G1) winner Audience will try to secure the fourth group stakes win of his career.
The Cheveley Park homebred will be making his first start outside of England for trainers John and Thady Gosden.
The field also includes South African-bred, United States-trained Isivunguvungu . Trained by Graham Motion Isivunguvungu captured last year’s Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs after winning a pair of group 1 races in 2023 in his native country to earn champion sprinter honors there.
The Dubai Racing Club noted that a win would set off celebrations around the world because, “The tongue-twistingly named sprinter (it means storm in isiXhosa) was bred (Narrow Creek Stud) and is owned (Hollywood Racing) in South Africa, trained by a U.S.-based Brit, and will be ridden by a French-based Belgian (Christophe Soumillon).”
- Marathoners will take the spotlight in the 3,200-meter (about two-mile) Dubai Gold Cup (G2T), where Godolphin homebred Trawlerman will try to improve on his third-place finish from a year ago in the $1 million race.
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