Horse Racing
Season 2024/2025
2025 Jan
Charlie Appleby excited to pit Measured Time against Romantic Warrior

By Leo Schlink in Dubai
24/01/2025 10:37

Charlie Appleby has four G1 Jebel Hatta wins.
Charlie Appleby has four G1 Jebel Hatta wins.

Chasing a fifth victory in the G1 Jebel Hatta (1800m) at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Friday night (24 January), Charlie Appleby says the presence of Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior adds another dimension to the AED1.85 million (approx. HK$3.92 million) feature.

Appleby, who landed the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) with Rebel’s Romance at Sha Tin in May, is regarded as one of the finest operators on the international stage with a proven ability to successfully travel horses.

The Englishman is attempting to provide Godolphin’s 10th Jebel Hatta triumph, having dominated the race recently with Tryster (2016), Blair House (2018), Barney Roy (2020) and Measured Time (2024), who returns as defending champion tonight.

“There’s obviously a slightly different look to this year’s Jebel Hatta, with Romantic Warrior providing a lot of interest, and it’s going to be a great event to be part of,” Appleby said.

“We are following the same route we took with Measured Time last year and he was an impressive winner of the (G2, 1800m) Al Rashidiya on his comeback run. He goes into this in great order.”

William Buick will ride Measured Time.
William Buick will ride Measured Time.

Measured Time, who will be again ridden by William Buick, jumps from barrier six in peak form after his record-breaking Al Rashidiya triumph, when he clocked a course record of 1m 45.11s and won by seven lengths on 20 December at Meydan.

Appleby will also be represented tonight by Ottoman Fleet, who was runner-up last year to Measured Time in the Jebel Hatta.

“Ottoman Fleet hasn’t won around Meydan yet but has produced some admirable efforts at the course. He deserves his place in the field and I am sure he will run another solid race,” Appleby said.

Ottoman Fleet will be ridden by Mickael Barzalona from barrier five, while Romantic Warrior will jump from gate one for James McDonald.

Romantic Warrior is bidding for a 10th Group 1 win.
Romantic Warrior is bidding for a 10th Group 1 win.

Romantic Warrior’s attempt to land a 10th Group 1 and a third in an overseas jurisdiction after wins in the 2023 G1 W. S. Cox Plate (2040m) in Melbourne and the 2024 G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) in Tokyo will also be challenged by G2 Zabeel Mile (1600m) winner Poker Face.

Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, Poker Face will start from barrier eight under Patrick Dobbs.

“He’s done seriously well since he came here, he just loves it in Dubai,” Ed Crisford said. “The Jebel Hatta looks like a very strong renewal with Romantic Warrior and Measured Time in there, but I think he can step up and run a very good race.”

Romantic Warrior will also meet Alfareeq (barrier seven), Ancient Rome (three), Holloway Boy (four) and Royal Dubai (two).

The Jebel Hatta will be run at 1am (Hong Kong time) on Saturday (25 January).

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