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.
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.
“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).
