Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Friday October 27

After missing the top two for just the second time in his illustrious career when fourth in the Turnbull Stakes, the Hong Kong champ Romantic Warrior will be looking to bounce back in Saturday's $5,000,000 Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

This win in the QEII will live long in the memory (image Grant Courtney)

In his first start for 18 weeks and away from home soil for the first time, the Danny Shum-trained gelding was running on empty when Gold Trip (FR) dashed past him in the Turnbull.  Despite a demanding schedule, the Melbourne Cup winner may be the hardest to beat again on Saturday.

Romantic Warrior could not have been more impressive when defeating the Deep Impact entire Prognosis (JPN) and the ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Rawson Stakes winner Dubai Honour (IRE) in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin in April.

Advertisement

The son of Acclamation was purchased by Mick Kinane on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club for 300,000gns at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

 

Bred in Ireland by Tim Rooney and David Egan of Corduff Stud, Romantic Warrior was sold at the Hong Kong International Sale to Peter Lau for HK$4.8 million ($814,000).

He is the third foal of the Street Cry (IR) mare Folk Melody, which was an €82,000 purchase for Blandford Bloodstock from the Godolphin draft at the 2016 Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale.

Corduff Stud recouped 85,000 gns when the Exceed And Excel filly she was carrying sold to Rabbah Bloodstock the year before Romantic Warrior's sale.

Acclamation (image Rathbarry Stud)

It worked out quite profitably for Rabbah Bloodstock as the Exceed and Excel filly named Melodic Charm (IRE) won two races at Wolverhampton and was fourth in a Group III at Kempton at two.

Consigned to Tattersalls in 2022, Melodic Charm (IRE) was knocked down to China Horse Club for 270,000 gns with a positive test to Acclamation's son Dark Angel.

Folk Melody won on debut at Newmarket at two, then failed to place in a further four starts at three.

Her dam Folk Opera (Singspiel) was a top-notch performer for Saeed bin Suroor, winning the Group 1 EP Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, Group II Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville, and the Listed Pinnacle Stakes at Haydock.

Saturday holds out great hope for the Acclamation line.

Harry Angel (IRE), a son of Acclamation's overachieving Dark Angel, could defy the odds and post his first Group 1 winner at 2000m when Tom Kitten goes off a short-price favourite in the $2,000,000 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick.

Tom Kiiten deserves a change of luck (image Steve Hart)

The memories come flooding back of the dramatic battles the future top stallions Choisir, Oasis Dream, and Acclamation had in Europe's top sprints in 2003.

While Choisir has sadly left us, Acclamation and Oasis Dream remain active at 23.

Acclamation covered his 19th book of mares at Rathbarry Stud for a fee of €27,500, and Oasis Dream commanded £20,000 at Banstead Manor Stud.

Choisir can rest easy as the sire of reigning champion NZ stallion Proisir, who has earned an increase to $70,000 at Rich Hill Stud this spring. 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Winning Debut for Blueblood Cox Plate Dreamer
At the start of August we ran a story about the 3YO’s that were entered for this year Cox Plate and aside from the usual suspects there were some ‘Cox Plate’ dreamers and one of them was unraced Lonhro colt Attica, who made a winning debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
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.
G3 Tibbie Next for Tuileries
Lightly raced So You Think mare Tuileries has long promised to measure up to stakes class and will be given that opportunity next start after returning to top form to win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
So You Think filly Scores for TAB Racing
The TAB Racing Club’s silks were to the fore at Ruakaka on Wednesday, with three-year-old filly Transcend carrying them to victory in The Homestead Sports Bar & Bistro 1200.
Waller Stable Hold the Key to Melbourne Cup
Champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller has 27 of the 120 entries for this year’s $10million Melbourne Cup, which equates to more than 20 per cent of the total, so it’s probably worth having a closer look at them.
Consecutive Wins As Cantiamo Defeats The Boys
With 60kgs on her back against the boys, it’s clearly evident there are bigger and better things ahead for the Kris Lees trained Cantiamo as the 3yo daughter of Too Darn Hot went back-to-back, winning the Precise Air Handicap (1200m) at Warwick Farm.
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.
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.
Engine of War Wins for MyRacehorse at Sandown
VRC Derby aspirant Engine Of War made a winning Australian debut from the quarters of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday over 1500m.
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.