Irish bred Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior produced a crowd pleasing victory in the Group I HK International Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, capturing this iconic race for a history making fourth time in a row.
A globe-trotting champion that won the Group I MVRC Cox Plate in Australia in 2023 and the Group I Jebel Hatta in Dubai in January this year, Romantic Warrior was off the scene for a significant period during this year due to bone chip surgery on a fetlock.
The Danny Shum trained superstar resumed to win the Group II BOCHK Jockey Club Cup last month and was a hot favourite for today’s race with regular rider James McDonald in the saddle.
He enjoyed a perfect run in transit and cruised home to win by nearly two lengths over Japanese raider Bellagio Opera with French mare Quisisana in third place.
Romantic Warrior has the overall record of 20 wins and five seconds from 27 starts and James McDonald has been aboard him in all four of his HK International wins.
The 8-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, a daughter of Group I winner Folk Opera.
