Romantic Warrior was all heart as he courageously went down in a storybook finish with Japan’s Forever Young in the US$20 million (approx. HK$156.43 million) 2025 G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Facing his biggest challenge yet in his first start on dirt as a 10-time Group 1 winner on turf in Hong Kong, Australia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates, Romantic Warrior broke from draw three under jockey James McDonald to sit behind leader Walk Of Stars.

Crossing from the widest of 14 gates, Forever Young swept over to also settle in front of Romantic Warrior as the field stretched across the long run to the turn.  

Peeling wide around the bend, Romantic Warrior broke clear as he hit the testing home straight in Riyadh. The seven-year-old led until the final 50m of the world’s richest race as Forever Young wore down Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year (2023/24) in a rallying 1m 49.09s – a stakes-record time – with jockey Ryusei Sakai for trainer Yoshito Yahagi.

Trainer Danny Shum said: “We all did our best. I hope to win every time, but racing is racing. As long as he tries his best and it’s a really good race – I think most of the people enjoyed the race.”

Owned by Peter Lau, HK$4.8 million Hong Kong International Sale purchase Romantic Warrior collects US$3.5 million (approx. HK$27.36 million) for second place to enhance his world record earnings to HK$207.04 million (approx. US$26.5 million).

“It’s a good run for his first time on the dirt, only beaten by Forever Young. He is a top dirt horse, and he was only beaten by a head – it’s a good run,” Shum said.

“It was a great run and he beat the third horse by lengths. It was a good run, and we will run in the Dubai Turf (G1, 1800m).”

McDonald said: “He was gallant in defeat. We had a great pitch in behind and he got a little bit of kickback, so I thought I’ll get him into clear air and he made ground just beautifully. He went through his paces really nicely all the way to the line and I can safely say I wasn’t stopping. I did not alter my stride pace at all.”

After fighting out one of world racing’s most epic finishes, Romantic Warrior next ships to Meydan for the US$6 million (approx. HK$46.62 million) Dubai Turf on 5 April on Dubai World Cup Night – the third and final stop on his daring Middle East campaign.  

“I thought even at the furlong (pole) I wasn’t slowing so I was quite surprised. It just shows what a great horse Forever Young is and what a race it was. Peter and Danny have done a marvellous job and it was a pleasure to be a part of,” McDonald said. “He was incredibly brave, and it was a great race.”

Second in this race in 2024 and victorious in the 2023 G1 Dubai World Cup (2000m, dirt), Ushba Tesoro finished third with stablemate Wilson Tesoro in fourth. Rattle N Roll completed the top five home in the Saudi Cup.

Forever Young’s form on dirt before tonight saw him place twice at Group 1 level in the United States of America – including at the Breeders’ Cup. The Real Steel four-year-old won the G1 Tokyo Daishoten (2000m, dirt) before this evening’s success.

McDonald heads to Sha Tin tonight to ride Voyage Bubble in Sunday’s (23 February) HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) – the second Triple Crown leg.

“He (Romantic Warrior) delivers every time and he delivered again tonight. Of course, I’m gutted he got beaten tonight but he went down on his sword that’s for sure and made one hell of a race out of it,” McDonald said. “We had no kickback until we wedged down to the corner and he hesitated a tad but we got him out in the air and got him to go through his gears really well.

“He gives his all every time and I’m very proud of him for sure.”