Platinum Warrior has plans to go long, very long

ARCADIA, Calif. – Platinum Warrior, the 16-1 upset winner of the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes on Feb. 2 at Santa Anita, is bound for the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at two miles at Meydan in the United Arab Emirates on March 30.

Trainer John Sadler said Sunday that Platinum Warrior was considered for three stakes at Meydan on March 30 and that the $1.5 million Dubai Gold Cup is preferred over the $6 million Dubai Turf at about 1 1/8 miles or the $6 million Sheema Classic at about 1 1/2 miles.

The Dubai Gold Cup will be the longest race of Platinum Warrior’s career.

“We think he’ll run forever,” Sadler said. “We think he can run that far or we wouldn’t go.”

Owned by Yuesheng Zhang of China, Platinum Warrior won his first graded stakes in the United States in the San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf. Jockey Shane Foley, who is based in Ireland, rode Platinum Warrior in the San Marcos Stakes and will have the mount in Dubai, Sadler said.

A 4-year-old colt, Platinum Warrior has won 3 of 12 starts and earned $208,290. Last year, Platinum Warrior won the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes in Ireland. He was transferred to the United States last summer.