James McDonald has won seven Group 1s on Romantic Warrior. (Alex Evers/JRA)
Saudi Cup Challenge Exciting for Lau
By Declan Schuster
Peter Lau is living the dream with Romantic Warrior and the affable owner of Hong Kong’s flag bearer is holding faith in the champion horse’s ability and adaptability ahead of Saturday’s (22 February) G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Taking aim at the world’s richest race worth US$20 million (approx. HK$155.69 million) at King Abdulaziz racecourse in Riyadh, the globe’s highest earner Romantic Warrior faces his greatest challenge yet – a debut on dirt against well reputed opposition on the surface from Japan, the United States of America, Saudi Arabia and South America.
“I am excited – it is the highest prize money race in the world and many of the best dirt horses from around the world will be coming. I am very delighted to see how he goes against them. I’m looking forward to it, I will head over on Wednesday (19 February),” Lau said.
“He is good over 1600 and 2000 (metres), so I think over 1800 he should have both the speed and stamina. Danny Shum (trainer) and I speak every day on the phone. He reports on the form of the horse and from him he says the horse is very happy and healthy.”
Global champion Romantic Warrior – bought out of the 2021 Hong Kong International Sale by Lau for HK$4.8 million – has returned an astounding 10 Group 1 wins in Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and the United Arab Emirates for his adventurous owner.
“If he can suit the dirt, I think his class is no lower than any of the other horses. My prediction is that it will not be too close – if we are not suited on the dirt then maybe he’ll finish fourth, fifth or in the middle but if we are as good on the dirt as we are on the turf then I think we are very hard to beat,” Lau said.
The Irish-bred son of Acclamation is the only three-time HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) winner (2022, 2023 & 2024). He has also won the HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) three times (2022, 2023 & 2024).
The seven-year-old’s overseas triumphs came in the 2023 G1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) in Australia, 2024 G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) in Japan and most recently the 2025 G1 Jebel Hatta (1800m) in Dubai last month.
Racing on dirt is uncharted territory for Romantic Warrior, who makes his 24th career start this weekend against rivals headlined by 2024 G1 Kentucky Derby (2000m, dirt) and 2024 G1 LONGINES Breeders’ Cup Classic (2000m, dirt) third Forever Young.
2023 G1 Dubai World Cup (2000m, dirt) winner Ushba Tesoro lines up as do Wilson Tesoro, Ramjet, Facteur Cheval and Rattle N Roll. El Kodigo – regarded as South America’s best dirt horse – features, while Bhupat Seemar is preparing Walk Of Stars – recent 2025 G1 Al Maktoum Challenge (1900m, dirt) winner. Al Musmak, Defunded, Intense For Me, Wait To Excel, Scotland Yard and Wootton’sun complete the likely field.
Lau’s odyssey with Romantic Warrior – who has unmatched earnings of HK$179.66 million (approx. US$23.09 million) – heads back to Dubai after this weekend, where he expects the horse will return to turf.
“I think most likely we will race in the Dubai Turf (G1, 1800m on 5 April). It’s not likely we will run on the dirt (Dubai World Cup) unless we can win easily,” Lau said.
Lau is a lifelong lover of horse racing. He has previously raced King Of Household, Household King, Romantic Chef, Romantic Hero and Romantic Charm in Hong Kong – the latter is Romantic Warrior’s travelling companion. Lau’s other horse currently in training is former Aidan O’Brien galloper Romantic Thor.
“Health-wise – Romantic Warrior is better than when he ran in Australia and Japan, I think. He has a great heart, and he is always competitive – he’s just a very good horse,” Lau said.
