Bidding for Group 1 glory in a fourth separate racing jurisdiction with Romantic Warrior, Danny Shum declared the Hong Kong champion fit and ready ahead of the AED1.85 million (approx. HK$3.92 million) G1 Jebel Hatta (1800m) at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Friday night (24 January).

To be partnered by James McDonald from barrier one against seven rivals, Romantic Warrior completed preparations at Meydan this morning, striding casually for two laps on dirt with work companion Romantic Charm before swimming.

Shum, who has landed nine elite victories with Romantic Warrior in Hong Kong, Australia and Japan, believes the seven-year-old is thriving in the Middle East.

“Romantic Warrior is fit and he’s happy here. He’s ready to race tomorrow. I hope we get a good run and I really expect how hard he will finish the race,” Shum said.

With world record earnings of HK$177.3 million, Romantic Warrior has not raced since posting a record third consecutive win in the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on 8 December.

Reigning LONGINES World’s Best Jockey James McDonald will make his Meydan debut tomorrow night and is excited to be back aboard Romantic Warrior after combining in overseas campaigns with the gelding to win the 2023 G1 W. S. Cox Plate (2040m) in Melbourne and the 2024 G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) in Tokyo.

“He (Romantic Warrior) has got a beautiful nature, nothing fazes him, and he enjoys travelling so it’s a bit like a holiday for him,” McDonald said.

Romantic Warrior’s participation in the Jebel Hatta has created tremendous media and industry interest on the international stage as he prepares to embark on an ambitious three-race schedule in the Middle East.

Apart from the Jebel Hatta, Shum is also aiming Romantic Warrior at the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) in Riyadh on 22 February before returning to Meydan for either the G1 Dubai World Cup (2000m, dirt) or G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) on 5 April.

Romantic Warrior has drawn barrier one in the Jebel Hatta – which will be run at 1am Hong Kong time on Saturday morning (25 January) – while Charlie Appleby-trained Measured Time, last season’s Jebel Hatta winner and 1800m course record-holder, will jump from gate six for William Buick.

Seeking a fifth victory in the race, Appleby is also represented by Ottoman Fleet who will start from barrier five under Mickael Barzalona, aiming to provide Godolphin with a 10th Jebel Hatta success.

Competing against the smallest field he has faced since 2023, Romantic Warrior will also meet Alfareeq (barrier seven), Ancient Rome (three), Holloway Boy (four), Poker Face (eight) and Royal Dubai (two).

Tomorrow night’s card also features the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge (1900m, dirt), which is headlined by the presence of 2024 Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval – who is also being prepared for the Saudi Cup next month.

“The plan was to send him to Dubai for the winter and try him on dirt before the big race (Saudi Cup),” trainer Jerome Reynier said. “He’s training really well on the surface, but it will be a very different scenario with the rhythm and the kick-back and everything.

“If he copes with conditions he will go for the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup, but if he’s not in the first three he’ll go for the Singspiel Stakes on Super Saturday and then the Dubai Turf.”

Kabirkhan will also feature in the Al Maktoum Challenge, while Laurel River – who was rated 2024’s joint best horse with City Of Troy in the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings – will resume in the G3 Firebreak Stakes (1600m, dirt) for Bhupat Seemar and Tadhg O’Shea ahead of a potential Saudi Cup clash with Romantic Warrior.

“In my opinion, it’s always better to start shorter and build up. I didn’t want to train him for ten furlongs (2000m) now, as that’s a lot of extra works,” Seemar said of the record-breaking G1 Dubai World Cup (2000m, dirt) winner.

“Our goal is the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup, so this is just a prep (race). He’s ready for it, he’s doing very, very well. He’s as fit as he can be without having had a race.”