Romantic Warrior reigns supreme in return Group 2 victory
Champion stayer Romantic Warrior’s (Acclamation) imperious Jockey Club Cup (Gr 2, 2000m) triumph at Sha Tin on Sunday has laid the foundations for Danny Shum’s ambitious 2024/25 campaign, crowned by a bid for a third consecutive Hong Kong Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) victory next month.
Extending his current winning streak to six, Romantic Warrior claimed his second Jockey Club Cup with a commanding performance under James McDonald, defeating Ka Ying Generation (Churchill) and Nimble Nimbus (Sacred Falls) in 1m 59.70s.
Taking his overall record to 16 wins and three seconds from 21 starts, Romantic Warrior boosted his prize-money earnings to HK$154.92 million (approx. AU$30.79 million) to continue his pursuit of retired Golden Sixty’s (Medaglia D’Oro) world record haul of HK$167.17 million.
Jumping from barrier one, Romantic Warrior settled in sixth place behind Sword Point (American Pharoah) and, as the field approached the home turn, McDonald angled off the fence and fanned four-wide to challenge. Taking over at the 400-metre mark, Romantic Warrior exploded clear to win – eased down – by four and a quarter lengths.
Returning to Hong Kong for a five-week stint, McDonald was awestruck by Romantic Warrior’s victory, marking the New Zealander’s ninth win from ten rides on the Hong Kong International Sale graduate.
“He’s like the prize fighter, isn’t he? Heavyweight champion of the world. You never really get nervous on him because he’s so good. He’s an incredible horse. I love him to bits and he’s very good,” McDonald said.
“You still got to go out and do it and [from] barrier one, you’re dictated to a little bit but he’s just so good – he can get you out of situations that other horses can’t. Just a phenomenal horse, I’m so proud of him. He’s come back in terrific order, he never lets you down ever and he’s just got this amazing will to win. It’s something I’ve never come across.”
Shum was pleased with his champion’s performance ahead of what he expects to be a far tougher assignment on December 8.
“He was a little bit keen because he’d been off for five months, so he was a bit fresh. James put him in behind them and the fast pace suited,” Shum said. “He [McDonald] told me the horse is still improving, but I told him on December 8 it will be two different stories. The field will be totally different – much, much, much stronger than today. You see the entries – wow, so many good horses. So, it’s a tough race on December 8.”
Shum will vaccinate Romantic Warrior on Monday in preparation for possible tilts at the Saudi Cup (Gr 1, 1800m) in Riyadh in February and the Dubai World Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) in April.
“It will be tough for him and the team not only in the next few weeks, but the next six months,” Shum said. “If he runs good on December 8, the owner, Peter [Lau], is really keen to go [overseas]. He deserves to have a try. It’s once-in-a-lifetime.”
Romantic Warrior was the second leg of a Group 2 double for McDonald, who also partnered Ricky Yiu’s Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) to victory in the Jockey Club Mile (Gr 2, 1600m) just one race earlier.
Zac Purton snared jockey honours with a treble, headed by Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) in the Jockey Club Sprint (Gr 2, 1200m), Fast Network (Wrote) and Super Love Dragon (Real Impact).
Matthew Poon enhanced hopes of contesting the International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley on December 4 with Bravehearts’ (Cityscape) win in the Class 3 BOC Credit Card Handicap (2000m) for Mark Newnham.
Poon sits in fifth place in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with 14 wins to trail Purton (40), Hugh Bowman (19), Vincent Ho (16) and Karis Teetan (14). With Purton and Ho already locked in for the four-race series, and Bowman comfortably placed, Poon is locked in battle with Teetan for the final spot.
A Group 1 winner in Argentina, Bravehearts boosted Newnham’s season haul to 15 wins.
Dennis Yip attributed the addition of blinkers to Fast Network as one of the factors in the lightly-raced gelding’s devastating victory in the Class 3 BOCHK Wealth Management Handicap (1000m) under Purton.
“I think the blinkers really helped today,” Yip said after the Wrote (High Chaparral) gelding clocked a blistering 55.83s in sweeping to a four and a half lengths winning margin. Purton also produced a superb, ground-saving ride on the Chris So-trained Super Love Dragon to land the Class 4 BOCHK SME in One Handicap (1400m).
Meowth (Showtime) made a successful debut for Luke Ferraris and Cody Mo, who then sealed a double with Hong Kong International Sale graduate Markwin (I Am Invincible) in the Class 4 BOCHK “Banking Trendytoo” Handicap (1400m).
David Eustace and Teetan struck with Silvery Breeze (Dundeel) in the Class 3 BOCHK BOC Pay Handicap (1400m) before ex-Singapore galloper Young Superstar (Press Statement) won the Class 3 BOCHK Asset Management Handicap (1200m) for Tony Cruz and Angus Chung.
Formerly known as Kungfu Hero, the Press Statement (Hinchinbrook) gelding won his only start in Singapore before joining Cruz’s stable and is raced by the HKJC Racing Club Limited.
Pierre Ng also combined with Britney Wong and Spicy Spangle (Headwater), the second standby starter who gained a start with the scratchings of Exceed The Wish (Maurice) and Top Scorer (Shooting To Win) before winning the Class 4 BOCHK Cross-Border Services Handicap (1200m).