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.
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.
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.
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.
