Measured Time appears the chief threat to Romantic Warrior maintaining his remarkable and unique winning spree in the G1 Jebel Hatta (1800m) at Meydan on Friday night (24 January) in Dubai – a race which runs at 1am (HKT) on Saturday (25 January) due to a four hour time difference.
It is a threat that looks serious judged not only on the five-year-old’s exciting Meydan history but also the huge success and vast turf track experience of the son of Frankel’s trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick.
The record shows Appleby and Buick have won the race four times and three times in the past ten years, and in 2024 it was Measured Time’s acceleration to lead 300m out that gave the Godolphin team of Appleby and Buick their latest Jebel Hatta ascendancy.
Even more striking was when Measured Time switched to pace-pushing tactics in last month’s G2 Al Rashidiya (1800m). He crushed seven rivals so decisively that Meydan’s 1800m track record time – that stood since 2014 – was bettered in fine style.
“He didn’t need to put in that type of performance to win, but that is what you get with him; he’s a high energy exuberant horse. I think there even could be some improvement to come from that,” said Buick. That latter observation will suggest to trainer Danny Shum and jockey James McDonald that the mighty Romantic Warrior may have a fight on his hands.
Measured Time will leave from gate six, and beside him in gate five is Ottoman Fleet – Appleby’s other contender – and the mount of Mickael Barzalona, whose only previous ride on the gelding was a second to Measured Time in this race last year.
Super consistent, tactically versatile and another very effective traveller with Group 3 and Group 2 victories at Churchill Downs last year, Ottoman Fleet is again likely to figure but would want a much faster tempo than the late-sprint scenario when only fourth to Poker Face – the mount of Pat Dobbs in the Jebel Hatta – in the G2 Zabeel Mile (1600m) last start.
Facteur Cheval is an intriguing contender in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge (1900m, dirt). The class that saw him strike gold in the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) at Meydan last March is unquestioned and gives him an edge on ratings; but on this 18th career start it is a belated introduction to dirt. His trainer Jerome Reynier said: “He is training really well on it but it will be a very different scenario with the rhythm and kick-back and everything.”
His eleven rivals all have solid dirt experience including likely favourites Kabirkhan (Cristian Demuro) and Walk Of Stars (Tadhg O’Shea) who both boast high class performances over this course and distance.
Kabirkhan was virtually unbeatable in Kazakhstan and Russia before bursting on to the Meydan scene early last year, including romping to a near five length victory in this race last year. A disappointing favourite in the 2024 G1 Dubai World Cup (2000m, dirt) last start, but multiple United Arab Emirates Champion Trainer Doug Watson is keeping faith.
“Kabirkhan might be the best horse at around this trip that I have ever trained,” he said.
