Jerome Reynier has revealed that Facteur Cheval is gearing up for a campaign on the dirt, with the valuable Saudi Cup in Riyadh his ultimate aim.

Facteur Cheval will return to Meydan for the first time since recording his breakthrough Group 1 success in the Dubai Turf last season next month.

However, the Team Valor-owned five-year-old will swap the lush green grass of Meydan for the dirt on his latest visit to Dubai, with Jerome Reynier keen to test him on the surface in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge before a possible tilt at the Saudi Cup in February should things go to plan.

"Facteur Cheval will be going to Dubai for the carnival starting on January 10th," said Reynier. "We will be running in the Maktoum Challenge on the dirt on January 24th.

"Depending on how he runs on the dirt, he will be aiming for the Saudi Cup."

The gelded son of Ribchester has posted three high-class efforts in defeat on turf since winning in Dubai in March, finishing sixth in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot before claiming bronze and silver medals in the Sussex Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes respectively.

"If he doesn't feel comfortable on the surface, he will then aim for the Dubai Turf in an attempt to defend his title.

"He will be spending three months in Dubai, and we will see if he has the ability to go on the dirt, or if need to keep him on the turf."

Connections of Facteur Cheval will not be the only ones hoping their horse can translate his turf form to the dirt, with Hong Kong hero Romantic Warrior also eyeing a crack at the world's most valuable contest at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.

The Saudi Cup will mark the first time any Hong Kong-trained horse has competed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and his handler Danny Shum isn't going to leave any stone unturned when it comes to preparations.

"It's my first time here, so it all feels very new", Shum said while a spectator during Saturday's Crown Prince Cups meeting at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. "I walked around the dirt track and have watched a few races.

"Me and the owners know he's a very talented horse and we believe he will handle it. We don't know for sure if he'll handle it, but I hope so."

Romantic Warrior is already a record-breaker, being the first horse to win three Hong Kong Cups as well as becoming the highest-earning horse of all time, something Shum acknowledges is very special.

Shum said: "He created history by winning three Hong Kong Cups and the racing public in Hong Kong love him. It's very special for me, my stable and for Hong Kong to have a runner in The Saudi Cup, so I want to make sure I do as good a job as possible."