The world’s leading jockey, James McDonald, says globetrotting champion Romantic Warrior feels as good as ever and has maintained his enthusiasm and competitive edge into his eighth year.

As he prepares to travel to Hong Kong for Sunday’s (1 March) HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin, McDonald revealed connections were pleased with the Acclamation gelding’s preparation for the showdown with last season’s Triple Crown winner, Voyage Bubble.

“Danny’s (Shum) been very happy with him,” McDonald said. “Same with all the guys that look after him. They’ve done a marvellous job this preparation with him.”

Sunday’s race is the second leg of the Triple Crown, and having taken out the first leg – January’s HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) – a win would put the veteran galloper on course to complete Hong Kong’s Triple Crown, one of the few achievements to have eluded him so far in a glittering career. Aside from Voyage Bubble, the only other horse to complete the Triple Crown in Hong Kong racing history was River Verdon in 1993/94.

Connections decided that Romantic Warrior, racing’s all-time leading prize money-winner (HK$247.38 million), would focus on domestic glory this season rather than pursue a foreign mission, which likely would have culminated in a much-anticipated rematch with Forever Young, the Japanese dirt superstar, who edged out Romantic Warrior by a neck in a thrilling G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) in Riyadh last season.

Domestically, the 12-time Group 1-winner is unbeaten since May 2023 and boasts a near-perfect record over Sunday’s 2000m course at Sha Tin with 12 wins and a second from 13 runs.

“He’s just got a phenomenal record overall,” McDonald said. “He just knows his job so well. He’s such a competitor and you know what you’re going to get from him, and that’s a solid performance every time he steps out.”

Elsewhere, on a bumper race card, Mark Newnham saddles three runners in the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m).

Among his hopes is Lucky Sam Gor, who has enjoyed an impressive season, recording four wins from eight runs. He has a 100 per cent record with this season’s surprise package, Jerry Chau, in the saddle, and the 25-year-old, who has ridden 25 winners this term, will take the reins on Sunday.

“Jerry’s had three rides on him for three wins. So he understands him well,” Newnham said.

As is the case for several runners in Sunday’s field, the 1800m distance presents a new challenge. But the Australian handler, who sits third in the trainers’ championship standings on 35 wins for the season, is confident that Lucky Sam Gor is ready to mount a challenge.

“He has come from the low-40s (rating) to contesting a Classic Cup. And you never quite know where his ceiling’s going to be until we reach it,” Newnham said. “I think he’s looking for 1800 metres. Each of his runs, he’s relaxed well and hit the line strongly.

“I think once he learned to relax in his races, he’s shown his true form, and he should get that on Sunday,” Newnham added.

Sunday’s (1 March) 11-race fixture at Sha Tin starts at 12.30pm with the Class 4 Citi Wealth Handicap (1800m). The HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) jumps at 3.35pm, while the meeting also features the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), which will be run at 4.45pm.