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Clean Sweep for the Locals as Romantic Warrior Goes Back-to-Back in Queen Elizabeth II Cup

Mark Smith - Sunday April 30

It was a day for the returning heroes as Romantic Warrior (IRE) made it a clean sweep for the locals in the three features with a commanding performance in the Group 1 FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin.

James McDonald salutes the crowd (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by James McDonald for Danny Shum, Romantic Warrior (IRE) tracked the speed set by Money Catcher.

A menacing presence on straightening, the 5yo son of Acclamation (GB) went right on by to record an effortless two-length win over the Japanese contender Prognosis (Deep Impact) with Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai) a half-length back in third.

Scoring by the same margin twelve months ago, Romantic Warrior (IRE) advances his record to ten wins and two seconds from 3 starts with earnings of HK$81,725,400.

“How good are the Hong Kong horses? They are flying," McDonald said.

“He put in a similar performance to December (Hong Kong Cup). It was a spectacular performance, and I never thought at any stage that he was not right. He was always going to explode for me, and it planned out beautifully.

Great day for the locals (image Grant Courtney)

“He is a world-class horse. It took a weapon (Golden Sixty) to run him down last time. He is a great 2000m horse, and I really enjoy riding him.”

Honoured last season as the Champion 4YO & Middle Distance Horse in Hong Kong, Romantic Warrior (IRE) was a 300,000gns purchase by Michael Kinane for the Hong Kong Jockey Club at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2. He was a HK$4.8 million purchase for owner Peter Lau at the Hong Kong International Sale.

A son of Rathbarry Stud’s Acclamation, Romantic Warrior 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).

 

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Race Result - The Fwd Qeii Cup Gr1 2000m

Sha Tin Track: G0 Time: 2:01.92
1
Romantic Warrior
- 5g Acclamation (GB) x Folk Melody (IRE) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C S Shum Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
2
2.0
Prognosis
- 5h Deep Impact (JPN) x Velda (GB) (Observatory (USA))
Tnr: M Nakauchida Rdr: Z Purton 57
3
2.5
Dubai Honour
- 5g Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Mondelice (GB) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: W J Haggas Rdr: T Marquand 57
Pride Of Dubai
4
3.0
Money Catcher
- 5g Ferlax (NZ) x Warren's Sister (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: S De Sousa 57
5
5.0
Danon The Kid
- 5h Just A Way (JPN) x Epic Love (IRE) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: Takayuki Yasuda Rdr: C Y Ho 57
6
5.1
Geraldina
- 5m Maurice (JPN) x Gentildonna (JPN) (Deep Impact (JPN))
Tnr: T Saito Rdr: Cristian Demuro 55.5
7
6.5
Tourbillon Diamond
- 6g Olympic Glory (IRE) x Modave (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: C S Shum Rdr: A Badel 57
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