The richest horse in the world just padded his earnings with a hefty check from the AED1,850,000 G1 Jebel Hatta over 1800 metres at Meydan on Friday. Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) delivered a strong final quarter in :22.80 to win going away, overwhelming frontrunner–and last year’s winner–Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) at the 100-metre mark to win as much the best. That Godolphin runner went fatally amiss 50 metres from home, tossing rider William Buick to the turf. Poker Face (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) ran 4 1/2 lengths second with Holloway Boy (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) third by a half-length.

The 7-year-old gelding was handed, visually at least, an increasingly herculean task on Friday after settling in third from the break. Godolphin’s Measured Time had the wind in his sails and eventually sprinted many lengths clear of his foes on the front end, with many struggling to stay within shouting distance.

Making up ground the quickest of them all a quarter-mile from the wire, Romantic Warrior still appeared to be running for second with Measured Time well in front. His relentless closing drive suddenly catapulted him within striking distance at the furlong grounds, and he seized the advantage just before the 100-metre point before kicking away to win. Poker Face and Holloway both avoided the stricken runner to pick up the pieces.

“He’s a really good horse–he’s talented, smart and easy to look after,” said trainer Danny Shum. “I wasn’t worried during the race as I trust James [McDonald], he’s a world-class jockey.

“He [Romantic Warrior] is one of the best in the world. He’s got a good turn of foot, he can kick, and he listens to what the jockey asks him to do. He knows I love him, I love him a lot.”

Asked about a potential Saudi Cup tilt next month, he added, “It’s a question. When he runs on the turf, I’m confident he can win, but I don’t know about the dirt. He’s trialled well on it in Hong Kong, but trials are trials.”

McDonald said, “He’s just a very good racehorse and he adapts to any circumstances during a race, to any pace and has a good turn of foot. He’s a very strong-minded horse.

“He could be a sprinter, that’s how fast he is. I was a bit worried as he was a little bit fresh in the parade ring but he found his cool going down to the start. He’s just a superstar.”

Measured Time’s jockey William Buick was ok and rode later races on the card.

Hugh Anderson, managing director of Godolphin (UK and Dubai), said, “Everyone at Godolphin is deeply saddened by the passing of Measured Time. He was an immensely popular horse and will be greatly missed. We are relieved to see William Buick walk away afterwards, and our thanks go to the veterinarian and medical teams at Meydan for their swift care and compassion in an extremely unfortunate situation.”

With his win at Meydan, Romantic Warrior now has Group 1 victories in four countries–Japan (Yasuda Kinen), Australia (Cox Plate) and Hong Kong (seven times), and an even 10 wins at that tier. He is the only three-time winner of the Longines Hong Kong Cup, which he won in his previous start and it was his seventh win on the bounce prior to Friday’s heroics.

Pedigree Notes

Rathbarry Stud’s dearly departed Acclamation is not just the sire Romantic Warrior, but also 67 other stakes winners. One of seven Group 1 winners for his sire, Romantic Warrior is bred on a similar cross as last year’s UK/Ire Champion Sire Dark Angel (Ire), who is out of a Machiavellian mare, the sire of Street Cry (Ire). A shuttle stallion to Australia in addition to standing at Darley’s American branch, the late Street Cry has 170 stakes winners (92 group/grade, 29 Group/Grade 1) to his name. Godolphin’s Eclipse champion Rebel’s Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and his star-crossed full-brother Measured Time are also out of a Street Cry mare.

The winning Folk Melody’s latest foal is Le Samourai (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), an unraced 2-year-old half-brother to Romantic Warrior, who cost Blandford Bloodstock 450,000gns at last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Granddam Folk Opera (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}) landed the GI E. P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine in Canada.

Friday, Meydan, Dubai
JEBEL HATTA PRESENTED BY LONGINES-G1, AED1,850,000, Meydan, 1-24, 3yo/up, 9fT, 1:45.10 (NCR), gd.
1–ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE), 126, g, 7, by Acclamation (GB)
                1st Dam: Folk Melody (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Folk Opera (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Skiphall (GB), by Halling
(300,000gns Ylg ’19 TATOCT; HK$4,800,000 HRA ’21 HKIS). O-Peter Lau Pak Fai; B-Corduff Stud & T J Rooney; T-Danny Shum; J-James McDonald; AED1,110,000. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year, 2x Ch. Middle Distance Horse, Ch. 4yo & MG1SW-HK, G1SW-Aus & Jpn, 23-18-3-0, AED82,561,575. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Poker Face (Ire), 126, g, 6, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Stars At Night (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST G1 BLACK-TYPE. (95,000gns Ylg ’20 TATOCT). O-Mr Edward J Ware; B-Rockhart Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Simon & Ed Crisford. AED370,000.
3–Holloway Boy (GB), 126, g, 5, Ulysses (Ire)–Sultry (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (60,000gns Wlg ’20 TATFOA; 60,000gns Ylg ’21 TATOCT). O-Nick White & Mrs E Burke; B-Cheveley Park Stud Limited (GB); T-Karl Burke. AED185,000.
Margins: 4HF, HF, 1HF. Click for the ERA chart & video.

Also Ran: Ottoman Fleet (GB), Royal Dubai (Fr), Alfareeq (Ire), Ancient Rome. Also Ran (DNF): Measured Time (GB).

🇭🇰 Romantic Warrior wins at RacingDubai

🏇 23 runs
🥇 18 wins
🏆 Jebel Hatta
🏆🏆🏆 Hong Kong Cup
🏆🏆🏆 Queen Elizabeth II Cup
🏆🏆 Jockey Club Cup
🏆 Cox Plate
🏆 Yasuda Kinen
🏆 HK Gold Cup
🏆 HK Classic Mile
🏆 HK Derby
💷 Over £18 million in prize money pic.twitter.com/IJqgJYHPgT

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 24, 2025