Today's Edition
DUBAI (ALETIHAD)
Fashion Friday at Meydan Racecourse has attracted a host of equine stars such as Laurel River, Romantic Warrior, Measured Time, Facteur Cheval, Tuz, and more.
As the highest-earning racehorse of all time, with $22.82 million in the bank, nine-time Group 1 winner Romantic Warrior deserves top billing even though his trainer played down his fitness levels. He lines up in a thrilling edition of the Group 1 Jebel Hatta over 1,800 metres on turf.
The seven-year-old will be ridden by regular jockey James McDonald, who arrived early in Dubai to partner him in a turf gallop on Tuesday. “It was a quiet gallop, but he did six furlongs [1,200m] and breezed home,” said McDonald, who will ride in the UAE for the first time on Friday. “He’s got a beautiful nature, nothing fazes him, and he enjoys travelling so it’s a bit like a holiday for him.”
“I believe he’s at 80-90% of his best condition,” trainer Danny Shum added. “If you really want me to give a specific assessment, I would say he’s a little over 80, but not quite 90%. He doesn’t need to be in top form right now, because our main goals are the following two races. For his next race on Friday, we don’t need to push him too hard.”
Romantic Warrior’s chief rival looks to be Measured Time, who won this race last year and broke the track record in the Gr.2 Al Rashidiya last time out.
“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,” said trainer Charlie Appleby, who has won this race four times. “We are following the same route we took with Measured Time last year and he was an impressive winner of the Al Rashidiya on his comeback run. He goes into this in great order.”
Appleby also runs Ottoman Fleet, second last year, and added, “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.”
Poker Face won a close edition of the Gr.2 Zabeel Mile and Simon and Ed Crisford’s gelding steps back up in grade here, having contested several Group 1s in Europe last season. “He’s done seriously well since he came here, he just loves it in Dubai,” said Ed Crisford. “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.”
Kabirkhan has run in the Dubai World Cup and visited the States since winning the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge a year ago, experiences which trainer Doug Watson believes will stand him in good stead for the defence of his title.
“The team at WinStar Farm did a really good job with him over the summer,” he said. “He seems a bit stronger this year, coming into his five-year-old year. We’re looking forward to him.”
Unlike Kabirkhan, dirt is an unknown to Facteur Cheval and the G1 Dubai Turf winner will try it competitively for the first time on Friday. Imperial Emperor, two from two for owners Deva Racing and since switching to the Meydan dirt, takes a notable step up in grade here.
"He's up in distance and class," said trainer Bhupat Seemar, who also runs impressive Listed Entisar winner Walk Of Stars. "It's unknown territory as he's only gone a mile before for us. He's improved every run and taken to the dirt like a duck to water. We've come through the handicap ranks and we're going in a big race now. He'll have to get his big boy pants on and prove he can do it. From this race onwards, we'll find out if he's a World Cup horse or a Godolphin Mile horse."
