Romantic Warrior Triumph's in Cox PLate

Mark Smith - Saturday October 28

In an epic finish to the $5,000,000 Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley, fans were on their feet as Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior (IRE) edged two of Australia’s most popular horses, Mr Brightside and Alligator Blood in a finish that fooled many on course.

Romantic Warrior (outside) gets his nose down (image Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

Bouncing back from his fourth in the Turnbull Stakes, Romantic Warrior seemed to run his race in patches, but winning rider James McDonald revealed it was part of his plan, which was decided when the judge found a margin of a nose over the gallant Mr Brightside (Bullbars).

The equally courageous Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) was a short-neck back in third.  

Advertisement

A relieved Danny Chum welcomed his champion back to scale.

“First thing, I’d like to thank Moonee Valley Racing Club,” Chum said.

“Second, I want to say I am from China Hong Kong. Hong Kong Jockey Club, there is some team. Thank you very much.

“I don’t know how to tell you how happy I am.

“I want to thank Peter (Lau), the owner, for allowing me to come here. James McDonald, all the team, all the Hong Kong fans, my wife Christine, my son Aaron. I love you! I love you!

“After that (the Turnbull), he was not really ready, but he got better day-by-day.

“I was confident he would run a good race. It is a strong race.

“He overcame all of the challenges and the difficulties. James McDonald gave me a very good report.

Out of the fire (image Racing Victoria)

“It has big meaning for me as a trainer. It makes me happy. I’m more happy than I can tell you.”

James McDonald admitted he thought he had been beaten.

“This horse is pretty special to me. I mentioned if he came to a Cox Plate he’d be a suitable horse,” McDonald said.

“I meant what I said and credit to Peter and Danny, it takes a hell of a lot of balls to come out of Hong Kong with all the prizemoney. It is one of the world's best racing jurisdictions, and they come here and showcase their boy.

“I reckon he’s got more to come, too. He’s been bubbling. A significant amount of improvement like I thought he did (would) and he loves the bloody Valley!

“I was comfortable. I knew I was on the right horse I kept going ‘he’s the best horse, he’s the best horse’ so I’d ride him like it.

“I took a gamble about the 1000m or 1200m. We elected to come back a spot and right now I believe that was the winning move. Giving my horse an extra length to come back.

Pure joy (image Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

“I let Alligator Blood out, knowing I can still beat him having last crack.”

The son of Acclamation advances his record to 11 wins and three seconds from 16 starts with earnings the equivalent of $17,955,885.

The 6-year-old gelding 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.

(Read more about the breeding of Romantic Warrior here)

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Cox Plate Gr1 2040m

Moonee Valley Track: Good(3) Time: 2:03.16
1
Romantic Warrior
- 6g Acclamation (GB) x Folk Melody (IRE) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C S Shum Rdr: J B Mc Donald 59
2
0.1
Mr Brightside
- 6g Bullbars (AUS) x Lilahjay (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: Craig Williams 59
3
0.3
Alligator Blood
- 7g All Too Hard (AUS) x Lake Superior (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 59
All Too Hard
4
1.3
Duais
- 6m Shamus Award (AUS) x Meerlust (AUS) (Johannesburg (USA))
Tnr: Edward Cummings Rdr: D Oliver 57
5
1.4
Gold Trip
- 7h Outstrip (GB) x Sarvana (FR) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M Zahra 59
6
1.5
Zaaki
- 9g Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) x Kesara (GB) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Damian Lane 59
7
1.6
Fangirl
- 5m Sebring (AUS) x Little Surfer Girl (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Z Purton 57
8
2.4
Militarize
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x Amerindia (GB) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Zac Lloyd 49.5
9
5.4
Victoria Road
- 4h Saxon Warrior (JPN) x Tickled Pink (IRE) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: A O'Brien Rdr: B Shinn 56.5
10
7.1
My Oberon
- 7g Dubawi (IRE) x My Titania (IRE) (Sea The Stars (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: J Mott 59
11
7.4
Pinstriped
- 5g Street Boss (USA) x Snitzel Blitz (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: E Jusufovic Rdr: Ben Allen 59
12
10.2
King Colorado
- 3c Kingman (GB) x More Aspen (USA) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M J Dee 50
More Reading...
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.
Idyllic Prince Stakes - Phanta Leads a Sweet Trifecta for Gingerbread Man
Yarradale Stud's senior stallion Gingerbread Man achieved a rare career high for any sire when the son of Shamardal provided the trifecta in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes over 1300m at Belmont Park.
Hard To Cross swoops to Valley win
Six-year-old gelding Hard To Cross was aided by the three-kilo claim of Rose Hammond as the Kiwi bred landed his first victory of the preparation when landing the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1523m).
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.
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.
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.
Wootton Bassett Juvenile G2 Double
Wootton Bassett (GB) featured in Ireland overnight at The Curragh with two stakes-winning juveniles, Constitution River taking out the the Group II Futurity (7f), while the Group II Debutante (7f) went to the filly Composing, who comes from the family of Amelia’s Jewel.
Bates gets creative at The Valley
Six-year-old gelding The Creator led throughout to claim the Ladbrokes Top 2/3/4 Betting Handicap (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday under a perfect Logan Bates ride.
Inglis Ready2Race Sale Now Online
The strongest collection of sire power ever assembled for an Australian 2YO Sale will be offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
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.