Romantic Warrior tops Saudi Cup field

Romantic Warrior is one of a full field of 14 for Saturday’s Saudi Cup.

The Danny Shum-trained globetrotter faces a different challenge on this occasion as he is having his first outing on a dirt track as he tackles the $20million race.

Unbeaten in eight starts since October 2023, Shum has full belief his seven-year-old will handle the switch in surface and build on his incredible record which has seen him earn more money than any other horse.

Having exercised on the dirt track on Tuesday morning, Shum said of Romantic Warrior: “It’s a different surface and he used more energy but he’s good, he’s come back fine and everything is good.

“James (McDonald, jockey) said he should handle it but until we finish the race, no one knows.

“The team have done a lot of work with him, changed his shoes, done of lot of walking to try to make him relaxed. He loves it here, he’s settled.

“We’ll just do a few canters now, he’s very fit.”

Japan’s Forever Young is seen as the big danger along with Ushba Tesora, who was beaten just a head in the race last year.

Europeans will be well aware of how good Facteur Cheval is while American interest comes in the form of Kenny McPeek’s Rattle N Roll.