Dubai: Godolphin’s Romsdal bids to break his Group race duck when he runs in the Yorkshire Cup (G1), the showpiece event on the final day of the Dante Festival, on Friday.
Trained by John Gosden, the son of Halling has delivered some creditable efforts in top races like the Epsom Derby (G1), King George (G1) and St Leger (G1), but is yet to score at the premier level.
However, he looks to have genuine claims of setting the record straight when he takes on five rivals headed by former England footballer Michael Owen’s prolific stayer Brown Panther.
The field also includes Snow Sky, who was third behind runner-up Romsdal in last season’s St Leger and Havana Beat, who finished behind Brown Panther in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan Racecourse in March.
“He has made the running in each of his last two races but he doesn’t need to. He’s just like a lot of horses, he prefers a good, even gallop,” said Gosden. “At the moment he is a mile-and-a-half to a mile-and-three-quarter horse.
“He does hold an entry in the Ascot Gold Cup [over two-and-a-half miles] but that may turn out to be beyond his range.”
Owen, who bred and owns Brown Panther, said: “Brown Panther has been the horse of a lifetime for me and I couldn’t have been more thrilled with his Dubai win.
“He has been in great form since and I am very much looking forward to the Yorkshire Cup. He has never run at York before and, although it should suit him, he has to give weight to some strong opponents.”
