Jack Dawling, Dubai
The Romantic Warrior camp is confident Hong Kong's champion racehorse can finish his Middle Eastern mission on a winning note as they put the final touches on his preparation for Saturday's Group 1 Dubai Turf (2,000 meters) at Meydan Racecourse.
Romantic Warrior will have his final start in a bold campaign which has seen him already scorch the Meydan turf in January's G1 Jebel Hatta (1,800m) and finish an agonizing second in his historic G1 Saudi Cup (1,800m) bid last month.
"He's looking incredible and I'm looking forward to it," trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing told The Standard after Romantic Warrior worked on the Meydan dirt yesterday.
"James McDonald galloped the horse yesterday and he always says the horse is in good form and he's right, the horse is in very good shape.
"I'm not too sure how strong the field will be on Saturday, but hopefully we can all make Hong Kong proud."
The seven-year-old jumps from barrier nine in the 11-runner Dubai Turf, a race that features Liberty Island, who finished second to Romantic Warrior in December's G1 Hong Kong Cup (2,000m), as well as the reigning champion Facteur Cheval and Charlie Appleby's Nations Pride.
Romantic Warrior will be partnered as usual by McDonald, who confirmed that the galloper could not be in better shape heading into the weekend's contest that takes place at 12.15am Sunday (HK time).
"He hasn't missed a beat and he seems a lot more relaxed here than he was in Saudi," McDonald said. "He thrives on a bit of pressure and he's all guns blazing heading into Saturday."
McDonald will hop aboard all three of Hong Kong's runners on Dubai World Cup night.
The John Size-trained Howdeepisyourlove drew barrier nine in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) while Frankie Lor Fu-chuen's Sword Point will jump from barrier two when he contests the G2 Godolphin Mile on the dirt.
jack.dawling@singtaonewscorp.com
James McDonald and Romantic Warrior work on the Meydan dirt ahead of the G1 Dubai Turf race. HKJC
