Romantic Warrior Pulls it Out of the Fire with Record Third Win in G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup

Mark Smith - Sunday April 28

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.

What a champ (image Grant Courtney)

With James Mcdonald in the saddle, the Danny Shum-trained gelding was caught three wide early. When slotting in one of the fence, McDonald was forced to go again when the backmarkers went forward.

Romantic Warrior kept up a relentless gallop to defeat the 6-year-old Deep Impact entire Prognosis, whose run was enormous, having missed the start.

Another Japanese runner, the Maurice (JPN) entire North Bridge, battled on courageously for third.

James McDonald said Romantic Warrior (IRE) had no right to win the race.

"I can't believe this horse; he brings a tear to my eye," McDonald marvelled.

"He was beaten at the 600m, but it's incredible, he just finds a way.

Did you see that? (image Grant Courtney)

"I dead-set did not have one thing go my way. I had ten riders against me and the horse. I had no favours at all, and he pulled out a run like that. Incredible!

"There was not one part of the race that I was happy with. I was deep but in a rhythm, not in a good spot. A 1000m from home I was finally having a rest and one took off. Then at the 600m he was off the bridle and struggling in the ground, but he picked up and I was in total disbelief. "

The win advances the record of the 6-year-old son of Acclamation to 14 wins and three seconds from 19 starts.

Owner Peter Lau purchased Romantic Warrior at the 2022 Hong Kong International Sale for HK$4.8 million.

Bred in Ireland by Tim Rooney and David Egan of Corduff Stud, Romantic Warrior is the best of three winners from four to race for 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.

For the third time (image Grant Courtney)

Named Melodic Charm (IRE), she 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.

Advertisment

Race Result - The FWD QEII Cup Gr1 2000m

Sha Tin Track: Dead Time: 2:01.02
1
Romantic Warrior
- 6g Acclamation (GB) x Folk Melody (IRE) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C S Shum Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
2
0.3
Prognosis
- 6h Deep Impact (JPN) x Velda (GB) (Observatory (USA))
Tnr: M Nakauchida Rdr: Y Kawada 57
3
2.3
North Bridge
- 6h Maurice (JPN) x Amazing Moon (JPN) (Admire Moon (JPN))
Tnr: T Okumura Rdr: Y Iwata 57
4
3
Happy Together
- 5g Dragon Pulse (IRE) x Ruby Girl (IRE) (Fast Company (IRE))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: A Badel 57
5
3.3
Hishi Iguazu
- 8h Heart's Cry (JPN) x La Liz (ARG) (Bernstein (USA))
Tnr: N Hori Rdr: D Lane 57
6
3.5
Five G Patch
- 6g Camelot (GB) x Uliana (USA) (Darshaan (GB))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: B Avdulla 57
7
4
Dubai Honour
- 6g Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Mondelice (GB) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: W J Haggas Rdr: T Marquand 57
8
8.3
Massive Sovereign
- 4g No Nay Never (USA) x Sweet Charity (FR) (Myboycharlie (IRE))
Tnr: C H Yip Rdr: Z Purton 57
9
17.8
Nimble Nimbus
- 6g Sacred Falls (NZ) x Marahau (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: P F Yiu Rdr: A Atzeni 57
10
22
Straight Arron
- 5g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Imperial Lass (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: C Fownes Rdr: C Y Ho 57
11
37.8
Sword Point
- 5g American Pharoah (USA) x Jazz Song (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: K C Leung 57
More Reading...
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.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
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.
A Third Legend Salutes as Romantic Warrior Goes Back-to-Back in Hong Kong Cup
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.
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.
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!
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.