Hong Kong fans will finally get the chance to see global superstar Romantic Warrior back on home soil on Sunday (23 November), almost a year after he last stepped out at Sha Tin.

The winner of 10 Group 1 races was last seen locally easing to victory in the 2024 edition of the G1 HK$40 million LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) but returns in Sunday’s HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m).

Shortly after his last Hong Kong performance, Romantic Warrior began his historic Middle East sortie with a resounding victory in the G1 Jebel Hatta (1800m) at Meydan, Dubai. That was to be the highlight of his overseas campaign.

The Danny Shum-trained gelding was narrowly beaten a neck by feted four-year-old Forever Young in an enthralling G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) in Riyadh, before a second agonising defeat as he went down by a nose to Soul Rush in the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) at Meydan.

Romantic Warrior was afforded a hero’s welcome upon returning to Hong Kong, but during the mandatory quarantine period that followed, he was discovered to have suffered a season-ending injury.

It has been a long road back to the track for racing’s record earner (HK$214.7 million), but Shum said his charge is in good shape to defend his BOCHK Jockey Club Cup crown.

“He’s good – he’s happy and healthy,” Shum said. “He has had three trials and one turf gallop at Sha Tin Racecourse. All the reports from the jockeys are positive.”

Romantic Warrior, who will be ridden by the 2025 LONGINES World’s Best Jockey elect James McDonald on Sunday, hasn’t been beaten in Hong Kong in nearly two-and-a-half years, when he went down by a neck to the Douglas Whyte-trained Russian Emperor in the 2023 G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m).

Russian Emperor was ridden that day by Hugh Bowman, who has been crucial in guiding Romantic Warrior back to fitness through a series of barrier trials since the gelding’s return from injury. Shum was keen to highlight the Australian’s contribution.

“Hugh helped me a lot. He always trials Romantic Warrior. Just in case James cannot ride, he’s the first priority,” Shum said. “He helps the stable, and he helps Romantic Warrior a lot. We made sure, if something happens, it’s Hugh.”

It will be a tricky reintroduction for the 2021 Hong Kong International Sale graduate Romantic Warrior (128lb), who faces old rival Voyage Bubble (128lb). He will seek to build on a disappointing 12th-place finish in his first outing of this season.

Tony Cruz’s pairing of Beauty Joy (123lb) and La City Blanche (123lb), and Straight Arron (123lb), recently reunited with Australian Racing Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes, alongside the improving John Size-trained duo of Ensued (123lb) and Bundle Award (123lb), also feature in a field replete with Group winners.

Further ahead, Romantic Warrior will bid for a record-extending fourth LONGINES Hong Kong Cup triumph. Beyond that lies another potential crack at the Saudi Cup, where a rematch with Forever Young would be one of the most anticipated contests in recent memory.

As the excitement for the return of Hong Kong’s hero grows, Shum contemplated the journey he has been on with the seven-year-old, one of the best the city has ever seen.

“I had confidence (following his 2021 debut),” Shum said. “I talked to the owner and said, ‘He’s super.’ But I didn’t know he’d become a global superstar!

“I don’t think he’s getting better. But I do think he’s still very, very competitive.”

Sunday’s (23 November) Bank of China (Hong Kong) Race Day starts with the Class 4 BOCHK Cross-Border Services Handicap (1200m) at 12.45pm.