Romantic Warrior was victorious on his Dubai debut but his Jebel Hatta success was marred by a serious injury to defending champion Measured Time.
Danny Shum’s Hong Kong star was looking to add to his international tally, having also won the 2023 Cox Plate in Australia and last year’s Yasuda Kinen in Japan but he was settled some way off the strong pace set by William Buick aboard the Charlie Appleby-trained Measured Time.
At one point the Godolphin runner was 10 lengths clear, with McDonald content to bide his time before he asked the triple Hong Kong Cup hero to close up.
In no time at all he cut the gap to around five lengths and once McDonald knew he was going to win, he was not hard on his charge as he added almost £250,000 to his earnings, which are already the highest of any racehorse ever.
Sadly, Measured Time fell just before the finish line.
The Saudi Cup is next on the agenda and McDonald is well aware the Riyadh race on dirt represents a different challenge again, but so far the seven-year-old has been up to everything thrown at him.
“He always gives me a great feel, he’s just a very good racehorse and he adapts so well,” said McDonald.
“He goes on any surface, adapts to any pace and shows a great turn of foot, he’s also very strong minded.
“He could be a sprinter, that’s how fast he is, but I was a little bit worried today as he was a bit fresh in the parade ring. He managed to get his cool going to the start, so I was thankful for that.
“It’s very exciting but Saudi will be completely different, we’re going into unknown territory. I don’t know if he’s going to go on the dirt.
“He’s got a phenomenal will to win which will take him a long way.”
Shum confirmed the Saudi Cup adventure will be next.
“I was not worried when he was 10 lengths behind because I trust James McDonald,” said Shum.
“Not many horses can make up 10 lengths, he is one of the best in the world, for sure. He’s got a good turn of foot, he listens to the jockey and he can kick.
“When we run on the turf I am confident he can win, but Saudi is dirt. He had six trials on the dirt in Saudi and won five and was second in the other. But trials is trials and race is race.
“I like what the owner Peter (Lau Pak Fai) said, ‘once in your life you should try’, so I will try my best for the Saudi Cup.”
The Saudi Cup dream also remains alive for Facteur Cheval, last seen finishing runner-up to Charyn at Ascot on Champions Day.
Jerome Reynier’s charge was a respectable third on his first outing on dirt in the Al Maktoum Challenge behind the Bhupat Seemar pair of Walk Of Stars and Imperial Emperor.
Having been trapped in on the rail, he was apparently travelling best of all but he found himself with too much ground to make up in the final furlong.