The reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year and winner of the 2023 Cox Plate in Australia, Romantic Warrior (IRE) was invincible last night at Meydan for James McDonald when powering to a scintillating victory in the Group I Jebel Hatta (1800m) in course record time.
Last seen winning the Group I Hong Kong International Cup at Sha Tin on December 8, the Danny Shum trained son of Acclamation was at his brilliant best when charging away from his rivals to win by more than four lengths stopping the clock at 1:45.10.
Equalling Golden Sixty’s record of 10 Group I wins, Romantic Warrior defeated Fastnet Rock gelding Poker Face and Holloway Boy to post his 18th win from 23 starts and conquering his fourth different racing jurisdiction after Group I successes in Hong Kong, Japan and Australia.
The race favourite Measured Time, a Godolphin runner by Frankel tragically failed to finish after setting a hectic pace in front
Romantic Warrior boosted his world record prizemoney earnings to almost HK$180 million with the win.
“As soon as I turned for home, I could see the leader in the race so far in front but he (Romantic Warrior) was picking up so beautifully and he did the rest,” McDonald said. “I was just delighted with him. He jumps fast, he travels well and I never felt in doubt at all.
“He adapts to anything. You could put him on a saucepan and he would run well – any pace, any distance would suit him fine.”
McDonald said he was more concerned before the race when Romantic Warrior was quite fresh and full of himself in the mounting yard.
“I was a little bit worried before the race with gap between runs, he was more fresh in the parade ring and then he managed get his cool going to the start, so that was pleasant to see,” McDonald said.
Romantic Warrior will next contest the GI Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) in Riyadh on 22 February before returning to Meydan for either the GI Dubai World Cup (2000m, dirt) or GI Dubai Turf (1800m) on 5 April.
Asked about switching to dirt for the Saudi Cup, McDonald said: “Your guess is as good as mine because I really don’t know. It’s foreign territory for him – a different surface – but one thing I do know is that he will try his best and he will give a great sight. Whether he can win, I’m not too sure but I wouldn’t swap him for anything.”
The 7-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 best of four winners from Street Cry mare Folk Melody, which was an €82,000 purchase for Blandford Bloodstock from the Godolphin draft at the 2016 Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale.
