Jockey James McDonald remains pleased with Romantic Warrior’s improvement ahead of Saturday’s Cox Plate after a second gallop around The Valley on Monday morning.
“We’re going really well. We’ve improved, with the three weeks between runs, and he’s a happy horse – you can see that by his work and how he comes off the track," McDonald said.
“I think it was pretty evident that he’s marching – he’s in good order, and he’s improved plenty, you know.
“We’re quietly confident going into Saturday that we’ve made enough improvement to be competitive, that’s for sure."
McDonald has partnered the three-time Group 1 winner for pieces of work at both The Valley and the Werribee International Horse Centre since his fourth-place finish in the Turnbull Stakes on October 7.
“The piece of work (at The Valley last Sunday) gave him a good look at the track - it actually felt like he’s been here a hundred times, the way he gets round this track – it’s incredible.
“He’s that sort of horse, he adapts to certain situations pretty good.
“A thing that’s most key is that he’s so well balanced around this bend, and he quickens off it…and he’s doing it with plenty in hand.
“He’s pulled up really well and I’m pretty happy with where he is.
“I think he’s on song, I really do.”
McDonald has a strong relationship with Danny Shum’s galloper, having partnered him for two of his Group 1 victories, in addition to a Group 2 win.
“I never rode him in any work in Hong Kong except for just before the Hong Kong Cup, and it was down the back straight of the Hong Kong track, so, they only went four furlongs," he said.
“But, in saying that, his action’s strong as ever, he’s fluent, he’s pulled up pretty well today.
“All I can compare him off is probably the Flemington work out, where he blew up basically in the piece of work, and he came off the track like he had a really decent bit of work.
“Now he’s doing the same bit of work and is marching off the track.
“He’s definitely going much better than he was leading into (the) Turnbull.”
With his grand final just days away, the hoop is confident that the gelding is nearing his peak.
“He’s definitely close to it, that’s for sure – he’s made just huge improvements, for three weeks.
“The three weeks have been wonderful for him, and you can just see by his demeanor, just walking around, he’s marching around.
“I’d like to see him, when he’s in the parade, get on his toes a little bit, because in Hong Kong he was really, once he got to the ponies, he’s quite marchy – he’s a very competitive horse.
“He wears his heart on his sleeve, as you can see by his races, and his record suggests that as well.
“He’s a competitor, and he doesn’t know how to lay down – when he was down and out with two furlongs to run (in the Turnbull), he had the audacity to keep chugging…he was there to be run past with 300m to go, and he stuck on gamely.
“There will be no excuse if he gets beaten, he’ll be beaten fair and square.”
McDonald will be hoping for a low gate at Tuesday’s barrier draw.
“Barrier 4 would be nice, wouldn’t it – 2,3,4,5,6.”
When asked about race tactics, he joked – “hope for the best…kick, and hope!”