Ahead of Romantic Warrior’s highly anticipated return in Sunday week’s (17 November) HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m), trainer Danny Shum’s superstar weaved his way through an eye-catching workout at Sha Tin this morning (Monday, 4 November) in preparation.
Breaking cleanly under jockey Hugh Bowman, Romantic Warrior settled near the tail of the field before steadily making ground between runners to clock 1m 08.73s in first position over 1200m on dirt, ahead of California Spangle and Victor The Winner, respectively.
“The eye doesn’t lie – from where I was sitting it looked pretty good. He’s in good shape and he had a good blow after it but he recovered quickly. He’s on track,” Bowman said.
The earner of HK$151.92 million, Romantic Warrior won five straight races at Group 1 level last season – including the 2023 G1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) in Australia and 2024 G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) in Japan.
The six-year-old Acclamation gelding will aim to become the first horse to win the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) three times when he lines up on 8 December.
“He was there to have a good workout and that’s what he did. He had a good break before I rode him in his first trial, then he had the longer trial and he was good, and he was better again today – he looks amazing and physically he’s very sound, fit looking, and mentally he’s the full package,” Bowman said.
California Memory (2011 & 2012) and Romantic Warrior (2022 & 2023) are the only two-time winners of the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup.
Victory at the HK$126 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races assures Romantic Warrior becomes the world’s highest earning horse – with HK$22.4 million on offer for first place – by leapfrogging current leader Golden Sixty (HK$167.17 million).