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...
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.
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.
Romantic Warrior Pulls it Out of the Fire with Record Third Win in G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Following the defeats of the superstars Golden Sixty and California Spangle, Romantic Warrior (IRE) sent fans home happy when repelling a strong Japanese challenge to win a record third consecutive Group 1 FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Spring Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
There was an interesting set of trials at Hawkesbury on Monday that featured heat winners including Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker as well as the Waterhouse Bott stable Cups contenders Sir Delius (GB) and Vauban (FR), plus we may have seen an Everest horse.
Well Bred Zousain Debut Winner
A full sister to Zousain’s Group III winning filly Drifting, Cheeky Contiki made a winning debut at Pakenham on Monday for the Lindsay Park Racing team.
Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?
There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.