Measured Time, ridden by William Buick, collapsed in the straight after trying to make all the running in the turf feature at Meydan, Dubai, won by Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior
Godolphin star Measured Time suffered a fatal injury as he was bidding to win his third Group 1 in Dubai on Friday.
The Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old lined up under William Buick aiming to repeat last year’s victory in the Jebel Hatta, after which he went on to win a Grade 1 race in the US.
This time he set out to make all the running and had opened up a ten length advantage entering the straight, but he had just been headed by Romantic Warrior when he fell to the ground.
Buick walked away from the incident but Measured Time, who had won over £1.2 million, did not survive.
The incident took the shine of another brilliant display by Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior who added his 11th top level victory under James McDonald.
“He is a very good racehorse who adapts to any circumstances, and during a race, goes on any surface, adapts to any pace situation and has a great turn of foot,” said McDonald.
Romantic Warrior, who has now won big races in four different countries, has the goal of the Saudi Cup on dirt.
“Saudi is a completely different kettle of fish, we are going into unknown territory,” said the jockey. “I don’t know if he will go on the dirt but he has a phenomenal will to win and that will take him a lot of the way.”
Earlier on the card, Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River was beaten at odds of 4-11 – three days after being crowned the joint best horse in the world.
The frontrunner was caught at the winning post by the 66-1 King Gold, trained in France, on the dirt at Meydan.
“I was more devastated for the horse getting beat,” said O’Shea. “He just did a bit too much and paid the price for it late on. He is going to improve plenty for it.”
O’Shea and Laurel River’s trainer Bhupat Seemar could have another candidate for the Saudi and Dubai World Cup in Walk Of Stars, who captured the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge.
