Hong Kong Jockey Club photo
Romantic Warrior Scores Historic Third Hong Kong Cup Win
In the end, history was achieved in the most impressive way imaginable.
Romantic Warrior became the first horse to win the HK$40-million LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (G1) three times in a manner befitting his status as his homeland’s pre-eminent equine ambassador.
So easily did the 6-year-old Irish-bred Acclamation (GB) gelding defy an array of international competition, in fact, that jockey James McDonald was able to stand up in his irons and salute the packed Sha Tin grandstands as he passed the line 1 1/2 lengths clear of Japan’s Liberty Island.
The heavy favorite jumped slickly from the gates and McDonald was able to allow him to settle into an easy rhythm in fourth place as Irish filly Wingspan set the pace.
Another Japanese challenger, Tastiera, had tracked in second and really provided the only competition to Romantic Warrior as they turned for home in a race very few got into. Liberty Island edged past her compatriot in the closing stages but the winner had already wrapped up the contest with a quite stunning demonstration of power, speed and grace.
“That was unbelievable, I’m so proud of this horse,” said McDonald. “He's just been remarkable and it's some effort by Danny (Shum, trainer) and his team.
“The Japanese (horses) put it to him but with no luck. He's the best, forget the rest, he’s the best. He’s been flying and anyone could ride him because he's that easy but I'm the lucky one. He’s the horse of a lifetime. This was our moment to create history and it felt like I was lining up for the winning kick for the All Blacks. It was a ‘pinch-me’ moment.”
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Shum said: “He was confident and full of energy. I stayed in the stables the whole time, I didn’t want to go out to talk too much. I work hard, I love my team and my team has done a great job.”
Romantic Warrior has already flown the flag for Hong Kong in several other jurisdictions, winning the 2023 W. S. Cox Plate (G1) in Australia. Shum and his team then took the brave decision to head to Japan this June, where he won the Yasuda Kinen (G1) in Tokyo.
This latest achievement in an unbeaten streak lasting longer than a year sees him move past another Hong Kong great, Golden Sixty, as the biggest money-earner in racing history. With Sunday's triumph, his lifetime earnings exceed US$22-million.
Next February, another enormous date is circled in his diary with a crack on the dirt for the lucrative Saudi Cup (G1).
“He’s the best, but I have to take another bigger challenge to go to Dubai and Saudi Arabia, just because I haven’t been to Dubai for 25 years,” said Shum.
“At that time, I was assistant trainer for Mr. Ivan Allan, I had a new experience. I will make sure the team that go there are in the best form.
“The owner, Mr. Peter Lau, said it’s a once in a life chance to take the challenge in Saudi Arabia for the top prize-money in the world. We are experimenting with dirt but I’ve tried him in an all-weather trial with a pacifier and he was quite good.”
Romantic Warrior was bred by the Egan family's Corduff Stud and Tim Rooney. His dam is the Street Cry (Ire) mare Folk Melody. The Hong Kong Jockey Club paid $396,948 for him at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, where was cataloged in Book 2 and offered by Corduff Stud. Lau purchased him at the 2021 HKJC International Sale for HK$4.8 million.
