Report: Romantic Warrior will take long break after Dubai Turf

Romantic Warrior, the 10-time Group 1 winner from Hong Kong who lost a thrilling duel to Forever Young last month in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1), reportedly will go on a long break after racing in the $6 million Dubai Turf (G1) on April 5.

“I’m not 100 per cent sure, but I can quite confidently tell you that after April 5, we will quarantine in Dubai and then come back to Hong Kong and stop racing until next season (2025-26),” trainer Danny Shum told the South China Morning Post. “The Dubai Turf will be his last run of the (2024-25) season, because it is too tricky otherwise.”

Romantic Warrior, a 7-year-old Acclamation gelding bred in Ireland and owned by Peter Lau, holds the world record for Thoroughbred earnings with $26,298,595 from a record of 24: 18-4-0, according to Equibase. With his regular jockey James McDonald, he took an eight-race winning streak into the Saudi Cup in his first time racing on dirt.

According to the SCMP, easier quarantine rules made a full spring campaign enticing for Romantic Warrior’s connections. Tries for a fourth consecutive victory in the QEII Cup (G1) on April 27 back home at Sha Tin and a second straight Yasuda Kinen (G1) win in Tokyo were considered but then rejected.

“We think we are better off giving him a break and waiting for next season,” Shum said to the SCMP. “Going straight to Japan is too hard for him. Peter and I agree that it’s too hard for him after a few months in Dubai and the travel to Saudi.”

After the break, Shum said he was leaning toward aiming Romantic Warrior for a fourth consecutive victory in the Hong Kong Cup (G1) in December before trying again in the 2026 Saudi Cup.