James McDonald delivered another sublime ride aboard Voyage Bubble when winning the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday and it looks likely the superstar Kiwi will be relying on a perfect carriage of another sort if he is to continue his association with Ricky Yiu Poon-fai’s superstar in next month’s Group One Gold Cup (2,000m).

McDonald is expected to be in Riyadh riding Romantic Warrior in the Group One Saudi Cup (1,800m) on the evening of February 22, meaning he’ll be cutting it fine to get back to Hong Kong in time to partner Voyage Bubble on the afternoon of February 23.

McDonald admitted over the weekend that he was only hopeful rather than certain of being able to do it, and a quick look at logistics shows that he will need an inch-perfect trip to pull it off given the five-hour time difference working against him.

There is a direct Cathay Pacific flight departing Riyadh at 12.45am on the Sunday morning, which McDonald would be able to make should the Saudi Cup again be run at 8.40pm local time.

All going to plan, that flight lands in Hong Kong at 1.40pm, meaning McDonald would be relying on permission from the Jockey Club to arrive at Sha Tin mid-meeting and for the Gold Cup to be run on the second half of the card.

One alternative would be for the 33-year-old to charter a private plane to take some of the variables out of the equation and perhaps get him to Hong Kong a little earlier, but a bill likely north of HK$1 million may rule out that option unless the owners are keen to stump up.

While victory in the HK$13 million Gold Cup would see McDonald win “only” HK$728,000 before tax, the fact he’s been in the saddle for 12 of the past 23 elite-level successes achieved by Hong Kong gallopers could encourage him to fork out.

Half a dozen join Warrior in Dubai entries

Half a dozen local gallopers have been entered alongside Romantic Warrior for April’s Dubai World Cup night, with the Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) again a chance to have a distinct Hong Kong flavour.

Reigning champ California Spangle is joined by Howdeepisyourlove, Flying Ace, Invincible Sage and Beauty Waves for the straight-track dash, while Beauty Waves also holds an entry for the Group One Dubai Golden Shaheen (1,200m) on the dirt.

Romantic Warrior and Sword Point are in the mix for the Group One Dubai World Cup (2,000m) on dirt, although Romantic Warrior could revert to the Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m) depending on what happens in the Saudi Cup, while Sword Point also holds an entry for the Group Two Godolphin Mile on dirt.

Romantic Warrior begins his campaign in the Middle East in this Friday’s Group One Jebel Hatta (1,800m) at Meydan, with trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing and McDonald arriving in Dubai on Monday morning.

Classic Mile entries out

Leading hopes Packing Hermod and Rubylot were among the 27 entries released by the Jockey Club on Monday for January 31’s Classic Mile, while recent Group One Hong Kong Mile 14th placegetter Ramadan is also on the list ahead of his trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning.

Johannes Brahms, Markwin, Cap Ferrat, Divano, Fast Network and John Size’s Sunday winner Bundle Award also featured, with priority to run in the first leg of the four-year-old series to be published on Wednesday.

The first stage of entries for the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) on March 23 also landed on Monday, with 66 gallopers nominated for the city’s most prestigious race.