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.

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...
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Romantic Warrior Triumph's in Cox PLate
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.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
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.
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.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two heats at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning over 900m and the quickest of those was won by an expensive son of Golden Slipper winning first season sire Farnan.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.