The jockey was more than satisfied after the outstanding performance of the son of (Acclamation) in the Saudi Cup. Danny Shum was just as delighted and, in the process, confirmed that the star runner will target the Dubai Turf(G1) on the Meydan turf
By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent for Thoroughbred Daily News in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (From a special correspondent).— Despite falling short to Forever Young (Real Steel), the connections of Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) left Saudi Arabia with a sense of satisfaction. A victory in the Saudi Cup (G1), the world’s richest race, would have propelled him to stratospheric heights, but there was little to fault in the sensational performance he delivered in his first—and perhaps only—start on dirt.
"He ran an incredible race. I'm very proud of him. He traveled beautifully and made the most of his momentum—it was truly a spectacular effort," said jockey James MacDonald as he dismounted.
MacDonald elaborated on the effort: "He was a warrior in defeat, and the race unfolded perfectly for us. He took some kickback but handled it very well. I can confidently say he never stopped coming—he kept his rhythm flawlessly. This only underscores what a great horse Forever Young is and just how incredible this race was."
Nearby, trainer Danny Shum was equally effusive in his praise for his stable star:"He ran a fantastic race. It was his first time on dirt, and he responded brilliantly. The winner is an outstanding horse, and he didn’t beat us by much. For a debut on this surface, to be beaten only by Forever Young, a proven dirt specialist, the performance was excellent."
"We lost by just a head—what more could we have done? I tried something new with Romantic Warrior, and I hope other trainers and owners are inspired to do the same. We gave it everything. Of course, we always want to win, but this is horse racing. He gave his all, it was a great race, and the fans loved it."
"James was happy with him, so I am too. It was a tremendous performance. He finished well clear of the third-place runner. Now, he will head back to Dubai to run in the Dubai Turf—definitely on grass," Shum confirmed.
Taking on a surface switch is an immense challenge, a fact underscored by City of Troy (Justify)’s struggles in last November’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar. But Romantic Warrior proved his class, his heart, and his adaptability. After all, sometimes it’s not just about winning—it’s about showing greatness in every way possible.
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