Fresh from a record-breaking Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington last week, James McDonald will reunite with Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior in Sunday’s (17 November) HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin after completing Australian riding commitments at Caulfield on Saturday (16 November).
Currently leading the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey standings with 160 points from Ryan Moore (150), McDonald will fly to Hong Kong on Saturday night to start a short-term riding stint, which ends on 22 December, just two weeks after he aims to ride Romantic Warrior to a record third HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) victory.
McDonald rode 22 winners and 30 minor placings from only 137 mounts in Hong Kong last season, earning connections HK$91.5 million prizemoney, and is excited to be reuniting with Romantic Warrior, who he has piloted to seven Group 1 victories.
“It’s always exciting to ride Romantic Warrior,” McDonald said, who has won eight races aboard Danny Shum’s champion galloper from only nine starts.
“I can’t wait to see Romantic Warrior. He looks to be working well and trialling well. It’s always exciting when his name is mentioned.”
McDonald’s affection for Romantic Warrior is founded in the pair’s herculean globe-trotting feats after a preparation which saw the Acclamation gelding become the first Hong Kong galloper to win the G1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley as the first of five consecutive Group 1 triumphs.
Romantic Warrior subsequently swept to victory in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup, G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m), G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) – all at Sha Tin – and the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) at Tokyo in June.
Bidding for his 16th win at his 21st start, Romantic Warrior (128lb) this weekend could face up to 10 rivals – Nimble Nimbus, Five G Patch, Encountered, La City Blanche, Sword Point, Ka Ying Generation, Ensued, Money Catcher, Awesome Fluke and Winning Dragon, who are all assigned 123lb.
Apart from Romantic Warrior, McDonald will renew his partnership with another Group 1-winning galloper this weekend when he rides Ricky Yiu’s Voyage Bubble in the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m).
McDonald was in the saddle when BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner Voyage Bubble landed the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) in January.