The Danny Shum trained Romantic Warrior (IRE) won the 2023 Group I MVRC Cox Plate and while a win in that race is often the pinnacle of success for the victor, in the case of this Hong Kong trained legend it was just a springboard to global greatness.
With regular rider James McDonald aboard, the eight year-old gelding by Acclamation was stepping out to 2400m for only the second time in his glittering career when sent off as favourite for the Group I Champions and Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
His only previous attempt at the classic trip was when second in this race back in 2023 behind Russian Emperor (IRE).
Punters rallied to the champion, who was shooting for a sixth successive win this season and he did not disappoint.
Romantic Warrior knew just where the post was and surged late to take a half length win and duly wrapped up the 2026 Triple Crown with this victory following his G1 wins in the G1 QEII Cup (April) and Hong Kong Gold Cup (March).
Romantic Warrior has won HK$288.74m (approx. US$36.84m or A$51.6million), the most money won by any racehorse in the world.
Shum is considering sending his champion to Conghua for the first time before identifying next season’s targets with the winner of 24 races from 31 starts now looking towards a holiday.
“The plan is to give him a break. I will think about whether to send him to Conghua, same as Ka Ying Rising – Ka Ying Rising is very happy (there). So, I might send him to Conghua, give him a little break, and then see how he goes,” Shum said.
“We’re happy because we have a very good team and stable. Peter (Lau) always makes the right decisions and James McDonald is a very good jockey.”
Romantic Warrior 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 a half-brother to stakes-placed End of Romance and is the best of five winners from Street Cry mare Folk Melody, a daughter of Group I winner Folk Opera.
