Danny Shum has ruled out a rematch between Romantic Warrior and Forever Young in the G1 Dubai World Cup despite his superstar’s monumental runner-up effort in Saturday’s G1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh.
Romantic Warrior and Forever Young produced one of the greatest races of all time at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia when the Japanese colt lunged late to deny Hong Kong’s great gladiator in the final strides.
While Shum was delighted with how Romantic Warrior handled the dirt in his first start on the surface, the trainer confirmed his seven-year-old will stick to the original plan and revert to turf for the G1 Dubai Turf, rather than pursue another “tough” showdown with Forever Young in the Dubai World Cup.
“He ran a great race on dirt and I’m very proud of him for that, but next we’ll definitely run in the Dubai Turf,” Shum told Idol Horse on Monday. “He is doing OK after the race but I’m not tempted [by the Dubai World Cup], it will be the Turf.
“It will be too tough for him to run on it a second time and there’s also the bonus on offer if he wins the Dubai Turf because he won the Jebel Hatta.”
Shum confirmed Romantic Warrior flew from Saudi Arabia to Dubai on Monday evening in preparation for his next Meydan mission, where he will be eligible for the US$500,000 (HK$3.87 million) bonus on offer for winning January’s G1 Jebel Hatta and the Dubai Turf on April 5.
While he may not have to face Forever Young on Meydan’s turf course, Romantic Warrior could clash with more Japanese firepower in the 1800m Group 1 including five-year-old filly Liberty Island and another Group 1 winner Soul Rush.
Liberty Island and Soul Rush will bid to reverse the form with Romantic Warrior after they were no match for Hong Kong’s champion galloper in December’s G1 Hong Kong Cup and June’s G1 Yasuda Kinen, respectively ∎
