[Official Saudi Cup Release] Hong Kong’s champion Romantic Warrior (IRE) will break from gate 3 in Saturday’s US$20m Saudi Cup.
The world’s highest-earning horse has attracted a huge amount of global racing interest since his arrival in Saudi Arabia and was even the centre of attention when given a quick preparatory look of the King Abdulaziz Racecourse parade ring on Wednesday afternoon.
Following the draw ceremony in the Cultural Village later on Wednesday, trainer Danny Shum and jockey James McDonald discovered their position on the track as Romantic Warrior aims to convert his incredible turf performances across international jurisdictions to the Riyadh dirt.
"We’re happy with it," McDonald said after his wife Katelyn selected the number on the stage.
"We didn’t come here with any expectation of a particular draw. 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."
Classy Japanese challenger Forever Young (JPN), back in Saudi Arabia 12 months after his success in the US $1.5m Saudi Derby, this year presented by ZOOD Realty, has continued to make progress but was not so obviously lucky when drawn in gate 14.
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi did not appear too downbeat, and said: "I haven’t worried about the draw too much but I’d prefer an outside gate to inside."
Rattle N Roll (USA), trained by Kenny McPeek and representing owners Sharaf Mohamad Alhariri and Lucky Seven Stable, was a tidy winner of The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup late last month, is in gate 7.
"We like the seven, that’s great," McPeek 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."
In-form Walk Of Stars (GB) was allotted gate 6 while French ace Facteur Cheval (IRE), who were first and third respectively in the Al Maktoum Challenge in Dubai on their latest starts, is in 12.
Of Walk Of Stars, trainer Bhupat Seemar appeared satisfied, and said: "He’s improved every run and I think there’s still more to come. I just hope he can take in the environment, he needs to get used to the place but he’s doing very well."
Noboru Takagi had inside draws for his pair. Ushba Tesoro (JPN) is in gate 1, and the trainer said: "I think he’ll handle it well, he’s the type of horse that comes from behind."
Of Wilson Tesoro (JPN) (4), Takagi added: "His condition has been improving so I’m looking forward to his run. I think it’s a good draw for him."
The other Japanese runner Ramjet (JPN) has 9. Trainer Shozo Sasaki said: "I’m happy about the draw. He travelled well and we look forward to the race ."
Of the remaining runners in the field: Al Musmak (IRE) (10), Defunded (USA) (11), El Kodigo (ARG) (13), Intense For Me (ARG) (2), Wait To Excel (GB) (8) and Wootton’sun (FR) (5).
(20/2/2025)
Comments