Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted 22 hours ago Journalists Share Posted 22 hours ago Reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior finishes a gallant second behind Soul Rush in the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) with jockey James McDonald at Meydan Racecourse. Photo: Hong Kong Jockey Club Romantic Warrior’s quest for Hong Kong racing history was denied in extraordinary circumstances at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday night (5 April) when Danny Shum’s champion was thwarted by the barest possible margin by Japan’s Soul Rush in an epic staging of the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m). In front until virtually the last stride, Romantic Warrior was claimed by Soul Rush and jockey Cristian Demuro, who could scarcely believe Yasutoshi Ikee’s charge had timed his lunge to perfection to claim the most important win of his career. “It’s as good a performance as he’s ever produced, he beat the best horse in the world today,” Demuro said after he drove Soul Rush out of a chasing pack to cut down Romantic Warrior by a nose in 1m 45.84s with Maljoom third. “It is a special win because we are now part of the Romantic Warrior story. He doesn’t lose many races but today he found a good horse.” Jockey James McDonald and Danny Shum had to endure an agonising wait before the judges declared Soul Rush the winner as speculation whirled of a possible dead heat. Unfortunately for Shum, McDonald and owner Peter Lau, Soul Rush’s triumph was confirmed soon after. A regular competitor at Sha Tin where he has tasted defeat in the Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) to Golden Sixty and Voyage Bubble, Soul Rush avenged his loss to Romantic Warrior in the Group 1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) last year. Bidding for an unprecedented 11th Group 1 victory by a Hong Kong horse, Romantic Warrior earned HK$7.78 million for second place, taking his career earnings to a world record-extending HK$214.70 million. But McDonald was crushed after Romantic Warrior’s bid to add to his bulging haul of Group 1s – the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2022, 2023 & 2024), FWD QEII Cup (2022, 2023 & 2024) and 2024 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup and three more in Australia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates – had come up desperately short. “He’s had a long campaign. He ran his heart out,” a downcast McDonald said. Resuming for the first time since an equally heart-breaking second in the Group 1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) in February, Romantic Warrior showcased his incredible quality and toughness in defeat against six individual Group 1 winners. Jumping cleanly from barrier nine he sat in third place, controlling the race under McDonald who set the seven-year-old alight entering the straight and led by more than a length at the 200m, only to be overhauled by one of Japan’s most mercurial talents. Romantic Warrior’s crushing second followed Howdeepisyourlove’s mishap in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) after he suffered a leg injury approaching the 450m when mounting his challenge. McDonald immediately eased down Howdeepisyourlove and dismounted as George Boughey-trained mare Believing sped away under William Buick to win her first Group 1 race. Dubai stewards confirmed Howdeepisyourlove was humanely euthanised after being assessed at the Dubai Equine Hospital. Frankie Lor-trained Sword Point finished last of 14 runners in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile (1600m, dirt), beaten 46.42 lengths under McDonald, as Frankie Dettori drove Chief Stipe O’Neill’s Raging Torrent to a comfortable victory – the Italian’s 23rd – a Dubai World Cup meeting record for a jockey. After jumping away fairly, Sword Point gradually lost contact with the leading pack and steadily drifted out of contention as McDonald glanced down at the gelding’s legs. Saeed bin Suroor continued his remarkable record at Dubai World Cup the meeting with veteran Dubai Future’s victory in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup (3200m) under Silvestre de Sousa. The Dubawi nine-year-old’s win provided Bin Suroor with a record-extending 39th triumph at the meeting before Dark Saffron won the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m, dirt) for Ahmad bin Hamash and Connor Beasley. Japan clinched the Group 2 UAE Derby (1900m, dirt) with Admire Daytona under Christophe Lemaire for Yukihiro Kato and, in another incredible display of power and quality, added the Group 1 LONGINES Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) with Shogo Yasuda’s Danon Decile and Keita Tosaki. Hit Show provided an upset in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup (2000m) for Brad Cox and Florent Geroux, overhauling Mixto and Forever Young. Horse racing news View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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