Soul Rush nips Romantic Warrior in Dubai Turf stunner

Saturday’s $5 million Dubai Turf (G1) was supposed to be all about Hong Kong legend Romantic Warrior, but the 1-5 favorite was mugged on the line by Japan’s Soul Rush. The Yasutoshi Ikee pupil thereby earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). 

Honored as the champion miler of 2024 in his homeland, Soul Rush nevertheless had a couple of questions to answer at Meydan. First, Romantic Warrior had beaten him in last summer’s Yasuda Kinen (G1) at Tokyo, where Soul Rush placed third. Soul Rush’s subsequent second to another Hong Kong worthy, Voyage Bubble, in the Hong Kong Mile (G1) tended to reinforce the idea that he had something to find on Romantic Warrior. 

The second question revolved around the about 1 1/8-mile distance. Soul Rush’s best results had come at a metric mile, as exemplified by his victory in last November’s Mile Championship (G1) at Kyoto. In a rare foray back up to this trip in the March 2 Nakayama Kinen (G2), Soul Rush was third as the favorite behind Sixpence in record time. The fast clocking that day turned out to be a sign that he would fire in the Dubai Turf.

Under a well-judged ride by Cristian Demuro, Soul Rush drafted right in the slipstream of Romantic Warrior early. The hot (and profusely sweating) favorite was tracking pacesetter Meisho Tabaru. When regular rider James McDonald pushed the button in the stretch, Romantic Warrior struck the front, but without his customary authority.

Although he gradually edged away from Meisho Tabaru, Romantic Warrior couldn’t get enough of a jump on the rallying Soul Rush. Favorite backers might well have feared that his hard race last time out, a runner-up effort to Forever Young in the Saudi Cup (G1), had left its mark. 

Romantic Warrior did not shirk the battle, characteristically digging in with all his might, but Soul Rush had the fresher legs. Quickening late to draw alongside the favorite, Soul Rush forced a dramatic photo-finish in 1:45.84. 

Fans and commentators alike wondered if the two were locked in a dead-heat, considering how long it took officials to declare the winner. There was precedent in the 2022 Dubai Turf, when Lord North had to share the spoils with Panthalassa.

But no such consolation was in store for Romantic Warrior, who succumbed by a pixel to Soul Rush, a $28.50 winner stateside.

Maljoom flew from last to get up for third over fellow British invader Ghostwriter. Next came Meisho Tabaru, defending champion Facteur Cheval, Brede Weg, Liberty Island, Goemon, Nations Pride, and Holloway Boy.

Tatsue Ishikawa’s Soul Rush advanced his scorecard to 25-9-4-3. A Group 1 bridesmaid until the 2024 Mile Championship, he had finished fourth and second, respectively, in the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Mile Championship. The seven-year-old son of Rulership has three other Group trophies in his cabinet, notably two from the Yomiuri Milers Cup (G2).