breednet.com.au

Romantic Warrior Continues on his Winning Way in Hong Kong Cup

Mark Smith - Sunday December 11

With James McDonald in the saddle, Hong Kong Derby winner Romantic Warrior (IRE) put a class field to the sword in Sunday’s Group 1 The Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin.

Glorious shot by Alex Evers of James McDonald saluting on Romantic Warrior

With the scalp of California Spangle on his belt in the Derby, Romantic Warrior (IRE) was in a race of his own over the final 200m.

The Danny Shum-trained son of Acclamation defeated Danon The Kid (JPN) (Just A Way) by four and a half lengths, with Money Catcher (NZ) (Ferlax) a half-length back in third.

It was the third consecutive win for Romantic Warrior (IRE), advancing his record to nine wins from ten starts.

Advertisement

His only loss came when fourth in the Hong Kong Classic Cup in February, won by  California Spangle.

Honoured last season as the Champion 4YO & Middle Distance Horse in Hong Kong, Romantic Warrior (IRE) was a 300,000gns purchase for the Hong Kong Jockey Club at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2.

He is the best of three winners from as many to race for the Street Cry (IRE) mare Folk Melody, a daughter of the Group 1 EP Taylor Stakes and Group II Prix Jean Romanet winner Folk Opera (Singspiel). 

Advertisment

Race Result - The Longines Hong Kong Cup Gr1 2000m

Sha Tin Track: Good Time: 1:59.70
1
Romantic Warrior
- 5g Acclamation (GB) x Folk Melody (IRE) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C S Shum Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
2
4.5
Danon The Kid
- 5h Just A Way (JPN) x Epic Love (IRE) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: Takayuki Yasuda Rdr: Y Kitamura 57
3
5.0
Money Catcher
- 5g Ferlax (NZ) x Warren's Sister (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: S De Sousa 57
4
6.3
Tourbillon Diamond
- 6g Olympic Glory (IRE) x Modave (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: C S Shum Rdr: J Bowman 57
5
6.4
Russian Emperor
- 6g Galileo (IRE) x Atlantic Jewel (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: D Whyte Rdr: B Shinn 57
6
6.8
Geoglyph
- 4h Drefong (USA) x Aromatico (JPN) (King Kamehameha (JPN))
Tnr: T Kimura Rdr: W Buick 56
7
7.3
Jack D'Or
- 5h Maurice (JPN) x Ravarino (USA) (Unbridled's Song (USA))
Tnr: K Fujioka Rdr: Y Take 57
8
9.0
Ka Ying Star
- 8g Cityscape (GB) x Casual Glance (GB) (Sinndar (IRE))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: Luke Ferraris 57
9
9.8
Lei Papale
- 6m Deep Impact (JPN) x Shells Lei (JPN) (Kurofune (USA))
Tnr: Tomokazu Takano Rdr: J Moreira 55.5
10
14.3
Panthalassa
- 6h Lord Kanaloa (JPN) x Miss Pemberley (IRE) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: Yoshito Yahagi Rdr: Y Yoshida 57
11
21.3
Order Of Australia
- 6h Australia (GB) x Senta's Dream (GB) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: A O'Brien Rdr: Ryan Moore 57
12
21.4
Savvy Nine
- 7g Anodin (IRE) x Insan Mala (IRE) (Bahhare (USA))
Tnr: D Whyte Rdr: K Teetan 57
More Reading...
Wootton Bassett 2YO Colt Wins G3 – Royal Ascot Next
The big meeting at The Curragh overnight produced an exciting new two year-old stakes-winner for Wootton Bassett with Albert Einstein making it two wins in as many starts when taking out the Group III Marble Hill Stakes (6f).
Sires With Winners - Sunday May 25
Here is the full list of 72 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Romantic Warrior's History in Hong Kong
Champion Romantic Warrior created some special history when emphatically winning his third Group I Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Flashy Grey Kingman Colt Wins Irish 2,000 Guineas
Juddmonte Farms have been firing through spring of the euro flat season and they produced the quinella overnight at The Curragh with Kingman colts finishing one and two in the Group I Irish 2,000 Guineas (1m) and leading the way was Field of Gold, who was purchased as a weanling  for €530,000.
Japan Salutes a Champion as Romantic Warrior Triumphs in Yasuda Kinen
A lather of sweat before the start, Hong Kong’s favourite son, Romantic Warrior (IRE), added another chapter to his illustrious story with victory in the $3,264,000 Group 1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) at Tokyo on Sunday.
Cox Plate Winner Takes G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup
Champion jockey James McDonald was reunited with Irish bred Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior at Sha Tin on Sunday with the pair combining to win the Group I Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) in an epic battle with Australian bred Deep Field gelding Voyage Bubble.
$550,000 Snitzel Filly Tops MM National Weanling Sale
A beautifully related daughter of Snitzel topped the 2025 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale on the Gold Coast today when selling for $550,000.
Cox Plate Hero Romantic Warrior Breaks Course Record at Meydan
The reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year and winner of the 2023 Cox Plate in Australia, Romantic Warrior (IRE) was invincible last night at Meydan for James McDonald when powering to a scintillating victory in the Group I Jebel Hatta (1800m) in course record time.
Mixed Fortunes for Aussie Connected Sprinters
There were two important sprint races run overnight in the UK and Ireland and both had key runners with strong Australian interest in Zoustar mare Mgheera and the former Waterhouse  Bott trained colt Storm Boy.
Voyage Bubble Makes History in Hong Kong
Hong Kong superstar Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) tonight became just the second horse in history to win the Hong Kong Triple Crown when scoring a stunning victory in the G1 Champions and Chater Cup at Sha Tin.