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Romantic Warrior Ends Middle East Journey with a Valiant Second
A look back at the epic showdown at the 2025 Group 1 Dubai Turf
15 May 2025
By Leo Schlink
Romantic Warrior’s (浪漫勇士) quest for Hong Kong racing history was denied in extraordinary circumstances at Meydan Racecourse on 5 April when Danny Shum’s champion was thwarted by the barest possible margin by Japan’s Soul Rush (神志勇進) in an epic staging of the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m).
In front until virtually the last stride, Romantic Warrior was claimed by Soul Rush and jockey Cristian Demuro, who could scarcely believe Yasutoshi Ikee’s charge had timed his lunge to perfection to claim the most important win of his career.
“It’s as good a performance as he’s ever produced, he beat the best horse in the world today,” Demuro said after he drove Soul Rush out of a chasing pack to cut down Romantic Warrior by a nose in 1m 45.84s, with Maljoom (美進) placing third.
“It is a special win because we are now part of the Romantic Warrior story. He doesn’t lose many races but today he found a good horse.”
Caption: Romantic Warrior parades in the paddock pre-race
Jockey James McDonald and Danny Shum had to endure an agonising wait before the judges declared Soul Rush the winner as speculation whirled of a possible dead heat. Unfortunately for Shum, McDonald and owner Peter Lau, Soul Rush’s triumph was confirmed soon after.
A regular competitor at Sha Tin where he has tasted defeat in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) to Golden Sixty (金鎗六十) and Voyage Bubble (遨遊氣泡), Soul Rush avenged his loss to Romantic Warrior in the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) last year.
Bidding for an unprecedented 11th Group 1 victory by a Hong Kong horse, Romantic Warrior earned HK$7.78 million for second place, taking his career earnings to a world record-extending HK$214.70 million.
But McDonald was crushed after Romantic Warrior’s bid to add to his bulging haul of Group 1s – the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2022, 2023 & 2024), FWD QEII Cup (2022, 2023 & 2024) and 2024 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup and three more in Australia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates – had come up desperately short.
“He’s had a long campaign. He ran his heart out,” a downcast McDonald said.
Caption: James McDonald endured mixed fortunes
Resuming for the first time since an equally heart-breaking second in the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) in February, Romantic Warrior showcased his incredible quality and toughness in defeat against a number of individual Group 1 winners.
Jumping cleanly from barrier nine he sat in third place, controlling the race under McDonald who set the seven-year-old alight entering the straight and led by more than a length at the 200m, only to be overhauled by one of Japan’s most mercurial talents.
Romantic Warrior’s crushing second followed Howdeepisyourlove’s (嫡愛心) mishap in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) after he suffered a leg injury approaching the 450m when mounting his challenge.
McDonald immediately eased down Howdeepisyourlove and dismounted as the George Boughey-trained mare Believing (堅信) sped away under William Buick to win her first Group 1 race. Dubai stewards confirmed Howdeepisyourlove was humanely euthanised after being assessed at the Dubai Equine Hospital.
The Frankie Lor-trained Sword Point (知足常樂) finished last of 14 runners in the G2 Godolphin Mile (1600m, dirt), beaten 46.42 lengths under McDonald, as Frankie Dettori drove Doug O’Neill’s Raging Torrent (洪流暴發) to a comfortable victory – the Italian’s 23rd – a Dubai World Cup meeting record for a jockey.
Caption: Reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior finishes a gallant second behind Soul Rush in the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) with jockey James McDonald at Meydan Racecourse
After jumping away fairly, Sword Point gradually lost contact with the leading pack and steadily drifted out of contention as McDonald glanced down at the gelding’s legs.
Saeed bin Suroor continued his remarkable record at the meeting with veteran Dubai Future’s (杜拜前景) victory in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup (3200m) under Silvestre de Sousa. The Dubawi (杜拜威) nine-year-old’s win provided Bin Suroor with a record-extending 39th triumph at the meeting before Dark Saffron (暗番紅) won the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m, dirt) for Ahmad bin Hamash and Connor Beasley.
Japan clinched the G2 UAE Derby (1900m, dirt) with Admire Daytona (喜飊速) under Christophe Lemaire for Yukihiro Kato and, in another incredible display of power and quality, added the G1 LONGINES Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) with Shogo Yasuda’s Danon Decile (野田分位) and Keita Tosaki.
Hit Show (大熱劇目) provided an upset in the G1 Dubai World Cup (2000m, dirt) for Brad Cox and Florent Geroux, overhauling Mixto (集大成) and Forever Young (青春永駐).
Romantic Warrior’s (浪漫勇士) quest for Hong Kong racing history was denied in extraordinary circumstances at Meydan Racecourse on 5 April when Danny Shum’s champion was thwarted by the barest possible margin by Japan’s Soul Rush (神志勇進) in an epic staging of the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m).
In front until virtually the last stride, Romantic Warrior was claimed by Soul Rush and jockey Cristian Demuro, who could scarcely believe Yasutoshi Ikee’s charge had timed his lunge to perfection to claim the most important win of his career.
“It’s as good a performance as he’s ever produced, he beat the best horse in the world today,” Demuro said after he drove Soul Rush out of a chasing pack to cut down Romantic Warrior by a nose in 1m 45.84s, with Maljoom (美進) placing third.
“It is a special win because we are now part of the Romantic Warrior story. He doesn’t lose many races but today he found a good horse.”
Caption: Romantic Warrior parades in the paddock pre-race
Jockey James McDonald and Danny Shum had to endure an agonising wait before the judges declared Soul Rush the winner as speculation whirled of a possible dead heat. Unfortunately for Shum, McDonald and owner Peter Lau, Soul Rush’s triumph was confirmed soon after.
A regular competitor at Sha Tin where he has tasted defeat in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) to Golden Sixty (金鎗六十) and Voyage Bubble (遨遊氣泡), Soul Rush avenged his loss to Romantic Warrior in the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) last year.
Bidding for an unprecedented 11th Group 1 victory by a Hong Kong horse, Romantic Warrior earned HK$7.78 million for second place, taking his career earnings to a world record-extending HK$214.70 million.
But McDonald was crushed after Romantic Warrior’s bid to add to his bulging haul of Group 1s – the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2022, 2023 & 2024), FWD QEII Cup (2022, 2023 & 2024) and 2024 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup and three more in Australia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates – had come up desperately short.
“He’s had a long campaign. He ran his heart out,” a downcast McDonald said.
Caption: James McDonald endured mixed fortunes
Resuming for the first time since an equally heart-breaking second in the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) in February, Romantic Warrior showcased his incredible quality and toughness in defeat against a number of individual Group 1 winners.
Jumping cleanly from barrier nine he sat in third place, controlling the race under McDonald who set the seven-year-old alight entering the straight and led by more than a length at the 200m, only to be overhauled by one of Japan’s most mercurial talents.
Romantic Warrior’s crushing second followed Howdeepisyourlove’s (嫡愛心) mishap in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) after he suffered a leg injury approaching the 450m when mounting his challenge.
McDonald immediately eased down Howdeepisyourlove and dismounted as the George Boughey-trained mare Believing (堅信) sped away under William Buick to win her first Group 1 race. Dubai stewards confirmed Howdeepisyourlove was humanely euthanised after being assessed at the Dubai Equine Hospital.
The Frankie Lor-trained Sword Point (知足常樂) finished last of 14 runners in the G2 Godolphin Mile (1600m, dirt), beaten 46.42 lengths under McDonald, as Frankie Dettori drove Doug O’Neill’s Raging Torrent (洪流暴發) to a comfortable victory – the Italian’s 23rd – a Dubai World Cup meeting record for a jockey.
Caption: Reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior finishes a gallant second behind Soul Rush in the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) with jockey James McDonald at Meydan Racecourse
After jumping away fairly, Sword Point gradually lost contact with the leading pack and steadily drifted out of contention as McDonald glanced down at the gelding’s legs.
Saeed bin Suroor continued his remarkable record at the meeting with veteran Dubai Future’s (杜拜前景) victory in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup (3200m) under Silvestre de Sousa. The Dubawi (杜拜威) nine-year-old’s win provided Bin Suroor with a record-extending 39th triumph at the meeting before Dark Saffron (暗番紅) won the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m, dirt) for Ahmad bin Hamash and Connor Beasley.
Japan clinched the G2 UAE Derby (1900m, dirt) with Admire Daytona (喜飊速) under Christophe Lemaire for Yukihiro Kato and, in another incredible display of power and quality, added the G1 LONGINES Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) with Shogo Yasuda’s Danon Decile (野田分位) and Keita Tosaki.
Hit Show (大熱劇目) provided an upset in the G1 Dubai World Cup (2000m, dirt) for Brad Cox and Florent Geroux, overhauling Mixto (集大成) and Forever Young (青春永駐).
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