A Third Legend Salutes as Romantic Warrior Goes Back-to-Back in Hong Kong Cup

Mark Smith - Sunday December 10

After Lucky Sweynesse won the Sprint and Golden Sixty claimed a third win in the Mile, it was the turn of the Cox Plate hero Romantic Warrior (IRE) to defend his title in the Group 1 The Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and send the packed-out crowd home happy.

Just enough to swear by (image Grant Courtney)

 Under a picture-perfect James McDonald ride, the son of Acclamation was all out to defy the rallying Luxembourg (IRE) (Camelot) by a short-head with Hishi Iguazu (JPN) (Heart’s Cry) the same distance back in third.

With his fifth Group 1 success, the Danny Shum-trained gelding advances his record to 12 wins and three seconds from 19 starts with earnings of HK$104,525,400 and A$3,083,750,

“I’m so proud of this horse – he is one of the toughest horses that I’ve ridden,” James McDonald said.

&ldq

Advertisement
uo;He is so easy to ride and has the heart of a lion and to come back from Australia, this is his best win by a mile.”

A third Hong Kong legend salutes (image Grant Courtney)

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.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - The Longines Hong Kong Cup Gr1 2000m

Sha Tin Track: Good Time: 2:02.00
1
Romantic Warrior
- 6g Acclamation (GB) x Folk Melody (IRE) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C S Shum Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
2
0.1
Luxembourg
- 5h Camelot (GB) x Attire (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: A O'Brien Rdr: Ryan Moore 57
3
0.2
Hishi Iguazu
- 8h Heart's Cry (JPN) x La Liz (ARG) (Bernstein (USA))
Tnr: Noriyuki Hori Rdr: J Moreira 57
4
0.8
Straight Arron
- 5g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Imperial Lass (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: C Fownes Rdr: C Y Ho 57
5
1
Prognosis
- 6h Deep Impact (JPN) x Velda (GB) (Observatory (USA))
Tnr: M Nakauchida Rdr: Y Kawada 57
6
2.5
Sword Point
- 5g American Pharoah (USA) x Jazz Song (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: Z Purton 57
7
4.3
Nimble Nimbus
- 6g Sacred Falls (NZ) x Marahau (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: P Yiu Rdr: A Atzeni 57
8
4.8
Rousham Park
- 5h Harbinger (GB) x Reinette Groove (JPN) (King Kamehameha (JPN))
Tnr: H Tanaka Rdr: Damian Lane 57
9
5
Money Catcher
- 6g Ferlax (NZ) x Warren's Sister (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: K C Leung 57
10
6
Horizon Dore
- 4g Dabirsim (FR) x Sweet Alabama (FR) (Enrique (GB))
Tnr: P Cottier Rdr: M Barzalona 56
11
18
Champion Dragon
- 6g Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Via Lattea (IRE) (Teofilo (IRE))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: A Badel 57
More Reading...
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Best On Breeding
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.
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.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
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.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.