Romantic Warrior could embark on the most audacious of dirt campaigns in the new year, with connections considering chasing the mega riches on offer in the Group One Saudi Cup (1,800m) and Group One Dubai World Cup (2,000m).

Trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing confirmed Romantic Warrior has received invites to the world’s richest race, the US$20 million Saudi Cup, in February and April’s US$12 million Dubai World Cup, both on dirt.

Romantic Warrior could get his first taste of the dirt under race conditions in the Group One Al Maktoum Challenge (1,900m) in Dubai in January before heading to Saudi Arabia.

“At this stage we’re only planning but we could go to Dubai then try the Saudi Cup and then back to Dubai for the World Cup,” Shum said.

“Owner [Peter Lau Pak-fai] got the news from Saudi and Dubai [about the invites], so we will see. We are not 100 per cent but we are certainly open to it.”

An eight-time Group One winner on turf, including victories in Australia’s Group One Cox Plate (2,040m) and the Group One Yasuda Kinen (1,600m) in Japan, Romantic Warrior sits less than HK$16 million off Golden Sixty’s prize money world record of HK$167,170,600.

While the reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year’s Cox Plate raid was considered daring enough, this latest set of plans are on another level completely.

“The prize money is very interesting – US$10 million to the winner,” Shum said when asked what brought the Saudi Cup onto the radar.

While Romantic Warrior has performed well in trials on the Sha Tin all-weather track, Shum admitted it is very much an unknown how the six-year-old would handle the surface under race pressure.

Should Romantic Warrior head to the Middle East, he would miss February’s Group One Gold Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin, while it is believed quarantine rules for gallopers returning from Saudi Arabia could also rule him out of April’s showpiece Champions Day meeting.

Shum indicated his stable star’s late-season targets could lie in Japan anyway, with a Yasuda Kinen defence and the Group One Takarazuka Kinen (2,200m) in June also being considered.

First, though, Romantic Warrior will resume in November’s Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) before chasing a third consecutive success in the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) on international day in December.

Ng gets rolling with 709-1 double

He’s hit the bar with a number of well-fancied runners, but it was a pair of roughies that got Pierre Ng Pang-chi off the mark for the season at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Last year’s trainers’ premiership runner-up, Ng entered the weekend fixture winless and with five placings from 16 runners, 11 of which started single figures in betting.

While hotpot Aeroinvincible, Medic Elite and Soaring Bronco all went over despite market support on Sunday, $17.15 chance Gale Saga and rank outsider Team Happy ($41.40) delivered a 709-1 double to get Ng’s campaign rolling.

“Very happy with the double. It seems a little bit late but it’s a good start to the season and hopefully we can keep going to the end again,” said the 41-year-old.

After Gale Saga took out the Class Five Wah Fu Handicap (1,400m) in his first start in the cellar grade, Team Happy transferred his strong trial form to the racetrack to snare the Class Four Mei Tung Handicap (1,400m) at start six.

“This horse trialled well at Conghua but I didn’t expect him to win when he was four wide all the way,” Ng said.

“Angus [Chung Yik-lai] did a very good job not to push him, to let him roll freely, and they got the job done.

“He’s definitely progressive [and] more mature, hopefully he can keep going.”

Jockey Matthew Poon Ming-fai moved to four winners for the campaign with his success aboard Gale Saga, leaving him second only to runaway leader Zac Purton in the jockeys’ premiership.

Record-breaking Jewel

Caspar Fownes was another trainer to get off the mark on Sunday and he was a relieved man after seeing Family Jewel get the chance to show his best in the Class Four Hong Tung Handicap (1,600m).

An unlucky eighth under Vincent Ho Chak-yiu a week ago, Family Jewel was kept right out of trouble by Hugh Bowman this time around, surging down the middle of the track to win in a class-record time of 1:33.70.

“I’m very happy to see that, it was a good effort. I’m surprised they ran that time and the track is very hard but he handled it well,” said Fownes.

“He ran very well last start and he was unlucky. He pulled up very well so I backed him up this week and he’s managed to get the win.

“I think this horse is quite nice so hopefully he can continue to improve.”