Four Grade 1 winners lead an exciting line-up of invitees for the $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 25.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Nations Pride is the standout name on the list having previously won the Arlington Million and Canadian International in North America.
Woodbine Mile victor Win for the Money, Hollywood Derby winner Formidable Man and Shoemaker Mile winner Johannes are the other Grade 1 winners in the 12-strong field.
Gulfstream vice president of racing Mike Lakow says he is hopeful that each of the invitees will take part in the prestigious race.
“We’ve been working on the Pegasus World Cup for several months and have done our due diligence,” Lakow said.
“We have spoken to each trainer on the list, and at the moment every one said they still have an interest in coming. One thing I am confident about is that we will have a full field in the starting gate for this and all of our big races on Pegasus World Cup Day.
“The Turf is going to be a very powerful race. Johannes is definitely coming, and he’s probably the top grass horse in the United States right now. Having a Charlie Appleby horse like Nations Pride coming is a terrific addition to the field as well.”
While Lakow is delighted with the potential line-up for the Turf, the absence of a superstar from the Hong Kong circuit takes some of the shine off Pegasus Day.
Three-time Hong Kong Cup winner Romantic Warrior would have added extra sparkle to the meeting, but he is on course to tackle a different challenge.
Trainer Danny Shum has begun preparations for the Saudi Cup in February by visiting the track where the six-year-old will bid to win the world’s most valuable race.
The Saudi Cup will mark the first time any Hong Kong-trained horse has competed in Saudi Arabia and the first time Romantic Warrior will race on dirt.
“It’s my first time here (at King Abdulaziz Racecourse), so it all feels very new”, Shum said. “I walked around the dirt track and have watched a few races.
“Me and the owners know he’s a very talented horse and we believe he will handle it. We don’t know for sure if he’ll handle it, but I hope so.
“He created history by winning three Hong Kong Cups and the racing public in Hong Kong love him. It’s very special for me, my stable and for Hong Kong to have a runner in the Saudi Cup, so I want to make sure I do as good a job as possible.”
James McDonald will likely be aboard Romantic Warrior in Saudi Arabia having ridden him to a series of victories in Hong Kong, Australia and Japan.
One of their most noteworthy victories was in the 2023 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in Australia, with the combination narrowly fending off local star Mr Brightside to win the race.
The race generated massive interest in online horse betting in Australia as punters wagered heavily on Romantic Warrior to get the job done.
The 13/5 favourite ultimately prevailed by a short head, sparking wild celebrations on the racecourse and in homes across Asia and Oceania.
McDonald and Romantic Warrior have continued to hammer the bookmakers since then, reeling off six more victories in some of the hottest races on the planet.
The son of Acclamation recently became the first horse to win three Hong Kong Cups and his participation in the Saudi Cup is a major coup for the race organisers.
Romantic Warrior is expected to have a warm-up run in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan Racecourse on January 24 before heading to Saudi Arabia.
After taking part in the Saudi Cup, he will return to the United Arab Emirates to run in either the Dubai World Cup or Dubai Turf.
