Romantic Warrior, the world’s highest-earning racehorse, is set to clash with a select group of seven rivals in the AED 1.85 million G1 Jebel Hatta (1800m) at Meydan Racecourse on Friday night, January 24. Among his challengers is last year’s Jebel Hatta victor and 1800m course record-holder, Measured Time, who will be piloted by William Buick as trainer Charlie Appleby aims for his fifth win in the race since 2016.

This high-stakes contest isn’t just about personal glory—it’s a stage for historic dominance. Appleby’s Ottoman Fleet will join Measured Time in representing Godolphin, which seeks its tenth Jebel Hatta title. Romantic Warrior, however, is no stranger to pressure. With a staggering career earnings of HK$177.3 million, he has already proven his mettle on international stages, including the G1 W.S. Cox Plate in Australia and the G1 Yasuda Kinen in Japan.

“He’s in great shape,” said jockey James McDonald, who rode Romantic Warrior in a light workout at Meydan earlier this week. “He breezed home nicely. It wasn’t fast for him, but he’s clearly in good form.” Trainer Danny Shum echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the horse’s adaptability to overseas campaigns. “He’s healthy, happy, and strong. He’s used to these trips now,” Shum noted.

Romantic Warrior hasn’t raced since his record-setting third consecutive victory in the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup on December 8. But even after such a feat, the challenges keep coming. Facing proven competitors like Ancient Rome and Holloway Boy, as well as up-and-comers like Royal Dubai, the globetrotter’s path to his 18th career win is far from assured.

As the anticipation builds for the barrier draw tomorrow, the question remains: will Romantic Warrior add another jewel to his crown, or will Dubai’s finest steal the spotlight? Either way, this is a showdown that could redefine racing excellence.