James McDonald & Romantic Warrior Headline
Romantic Warrior and James McDonald stretch out on the Meydan turf track. Photo: Dubai Racing Club/Liesl King
James McDonald and Romantic Warrior headline busy work morning at Meydan
$12,000,000 Group 1 Dubai World Cup (Sponsored by Emirates Airline)
Florida-based conditioner Antonio Sano is set to saddle a horse in the $12 million Dubai World Cup for the third time in the form of the hard-knocking Il Miracolo.
A son of top US sire Gun Runner – second behind the remarkable Arrogate in the 2017 World Cup – Il Miracolo is a Grade 3 winner at ages three and four and was last seen finishing down the field behind the re-opposing Mixto in the G1 Pacific Classic (2000m) at Del Mar last September.
Sano believes his charge is ready to fire a big shot.
“He has settled in very well and I am very happy with him,” said Sano, one of the all-time winningest trainers in Venezuela. “After his last race, we gave him three months on the farm and he’s a different horse.”
Owner Eduardo Soto said it was “an honour” to be invited to compete in the World Cup, but that Il Miracolo isn’t here just for the scenery.
“I think he’s going to run well,” he said. “And I believe that the stars have aligned for us. We will see on Saturday.”
Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who rode the recently deceased Roses In May to win the World Cup at old Nad Al Sheba some two decades ago, is at the controls on Saturday.
Sano was also the trainer of Gunnevera, who finished eighth to Thunder Snow in the 2018 renewal before improving to third to the same rival, beaten just two and a half lengths, 12 months later.
Ryusei Sakai was a man in demand during the first hour of trackwork and among his big-race mounts for Saturday, none carries more weight of expectation than Forever Young.
After working for five furlongs upsides with Dubai Golden Shaheen runner American Stage, Sakai said of Forever Young: “He breezed in a good rhythm. He reacted well on the bridle.”
$6,000,000 Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic (Sponsored by Longines)
Sakai was also in the plate on recent G3 Neom Turf (2100m) winner Shin Emperor for a five-furlong spin on the main dirt track, and observed: “He moved and reacted well.”
Arguably a more consequential piece of work was that of G1 Tokyo Yushun winner Danon Decile, who managed to stay just ahead of Al Quoz Sprint challenger Puro Magic in a breeze around the turn and up the home straight on the turf track under jockey Keita Tosaki.
“He was in very good form,” said Tosaki. “He stretched his legs well when I asked him on the home straight.
“The turf track suits him and we have responsibility here as a Japanese Derby winner.”
$5,000,000 Group 1 Dubai Turf (Sponsored by DP World)
In a usual year, James McDonald would have been at Rosehill Racecourse in Australia on Tuesday, riding in a rescheduled Group 1 meeting down under.
Instead, while that meeting was taking place thousands of miles away, McDonald was at Meydan guiding his old partner Romantic Warrior through his final turf gallop ahead of Saturday’s Dubai Turf. It was his first time aboard Romantic Warrior since the pair went down in a finish for the ages in the Saudi Cup.
“He’s excellent, he hasn’t missed a beat,” McDonald said. “The guys who live and breathe him every day, they’re very happy with him. He’s taken everything in his stride.
“He seems a lot more relaxed here in Dubai than he was in Saudi Arabia. Obviously, he’s probably in Riyadh for a lot shorter time than he is here, so he’s had time to just be here. He’s relaxed. Even in his work, he’s a lot more relaxed.”
To the eye, the turf gallop appeared a leisurely stroll; the Hong Kong champion having a cruise around the Meydan track that has been his home for much of the last four months. However, there were signs that it was a more vigorous assignment than it first appeared.
Romantic Warrior’s final 400m was clocked in 23.34 seconds, with his last 200m in a brisk 11.67 seconds. He left his regular lead horse Romantic Charm well and truly in his dust, the companion trailing more than 100 metres behind at the end of the work.
McDonald arrived in Dubai on Monday and will make his Dubai World Cup meeting debut on Saturday.
