Michael Cox James McDonald was named World's Best Jockey for 2024 but the Middle East's lucrative races are one of the few remaining frontiers the talented rider has yet to conquer. McDonald will get his first chance at Group 1 success in Dubai when the horse that has already taken him around the world, Romantic Warrior, contests the Jebel Hatta at Meydan Racecourse late tonight (12.25am). McDonald has enjoyed an incredible 26-month stretch with Romantic Warrior, winning 10 of the 11 races he has ridden the horse in. They have been unbeaten since the 2023 Cox Plate and in the 15 months since then have won seven straight races, six at Group 1 level, across three different countries. If Romantic Warrior, already the highest prizemoney earner in horse racing history, can win tonight, it will be the fourth country he has competed in during that time and trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing then plans to take his horse to Saudi Arabia for the G1 Saudi Cup, the world's richest race at US$20 million (HK$156 million). McDonald is more than happy to be along for the ride. "Of course, as a jockey, you always hope to be able to ride in the world's biggest races," McDonald said. "Whatever happens, happens. Romantic Warrior has already opened up so many doors for me - the fact that we're going to Dubai and are talking about some of the world's biggest races, it's just a fact of traveling that it gets your name out there and opens up more opportunities. Who knows where it might lead next?" Shum is happy with how Romantic Warrior has settled into his surroundings in Dubai but also warned that his horse is not at peak fitness for the first of what could be a long overseas preparation that, if all goes to plan, includes a return to Meydan for Dubai World Cup night. "I believe he's at 80 to 90 percent of his best condition. Actually, I don't really like to measure it this way. If you really want me to give a specific assessment, I would say he's a little over 80 percent but not quite 90 percent," Shum told the Hong Kong Jockey Club media in Dubai. "In fact, he doesn't need to be in top form right now, because our main goals are the following two races. For his next race on Friday, we don't need to push him too hard. This race is mainly to prepare him for the next two bigger targets." michael.cox@singtaonewscorp.com
