The Saudi Cup Trackwork News - Thursday 20 Feb

Image: Romantic Warrior, Morning Trackwork, 14 February 2025

Credit: Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia //Ali Abdullah

- Shum thrilled with Romantic Warrior ahead of Saturday showdown

- Hong Kong star makes dirt debut in The Saudi Cup

A noticeably more relaxed Danny Shum was on hand on Thursday morning, two days before his Hong Kong flag-bearing world champion Romantic Warrior (IRE), owned by Peter Lau, attempts his first dirt race in the world’s richest affair, the US$20m Saudi Cup.

A couple of days since a blowout breeze with regular jockey James McDonald aboard, his New Zealand-born rider’s only once over the local surface, connections are ready to settle all debates on the racetrack.

"I feel good about how he handled the dirt here and so did James, but the point is how he will handle the kickback and it’s different for different horses," Shum said.

"Some horses can handle it and others will shorten their stride. This is normal. You never know until they’re past the winning post. He looks very fit. Physically, in all his career, this time he’s the best in his life."

The 10-time Group 1 winner drew barrier 3 of 14 and Shum continued: "That draw is really helpful because it’s very flexible. I studied the last five years of The Saudi Cup and the first 200m are really fast. They just go American style."

- British Neom hero still showing his spirit

- Sir Alex Ferguson bred aiming for repeat win

Following the special scenes witnessed last year, Richard Fahey’s Spirit Dancer (GB) now returns as the defending champion of the US$2m Howden Neom Turf Cup.

Bred and part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, a genuine global sporting icon as the decorated former manager of Manchester United, the son of Frankel steamed down the home straight of King Abdulaziz Racecourse 12 months ago on what has been quite an adventure as he is also the back-to-back winner of the Bahrain International Trophy.

Fahey’s son and assistant Peter watched Spirit Dancer canter on the dirt track on Thursday, and said: "It’s the first time I’ve travelled with him. The owners loved it here last year and Ged Mason is coming across last minute. Unfortunately one of Sir Alex’s friends, John Hales, passed away so he can’t make it.

"The horse looks fantastic. He was a fraction disappointing last time in Hong Kong but I suppose it was a different race, a different tempo. He seems to like it here and in Bahrain."

Looking at the opposition, Fahey continued: "Shin Emperor is the obvious one and Joseph O’Brien has come double-handed, but he’s here and he deserves to take his chance."

- Rattle N Roll a reserve no more for McPeek

- Decorated American trainer is getting to grips with his recent course winner

Sharaf Mohamad Alhariri and Lucky Seven Stable’s Rattle N Roll (USA) had an easy canter of the King Abdulaziz Racecourse dirt track on Thursday morning as he prepares for his tilt in the US$20m Saudi Cup.

In the form of his career for trainer Kenny McPeek, the son of Connect won his past two runs in exceptional fashion, taking the Grade 2 Clark Stakes stateside at Churchill Downs and then the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup in Saudi Arabia.

"We’ve approached him a little bit differently, the older he’s become," McPeek said. "I, admittedly, was pretty aggressive with him as a 3-year-old and even ran him back on seven days’ rest and should have won both if not for a little traffic issue.

"We are now spacing his races more and I think he fires a bigger shot when we do that. I think, at this age for him, coming back with more time really benefits him."

Those two efforts came on the heels of being frustratingly denied entry into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic as first reserve - a similar scenario to 2023 when the chestnut was sitting first reserve for the Kentucky Derby and never drew into the body of the race.

"This horse would probably be much more recognisable if he had been able to get into the Kentucky Derby, because that race ended up being a closer’s race and he would have benefitted and of course, Rich Strike won that year and we were every bit as good as him, but we didn’t get in," McPeek reflected.

"Then for us to get excluded in the Breeders’ Cup Classic was another deal where we were fingers crossed we could draw in and he didn’t get in. If we were to win that race, another with a fast pace and really came into it. So here we are today."

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