Matthew Poon Ming-fai and Romantic Thor stole the show when leading all the way to win the Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained galloper surged forward in the seven-horse field after jumping from barrier two with the bottom weight of 116lb. The five-year-old led from barrier to box with a perfectly-rated ride from Poon in rain-affected conditions, and couldn’t be caught by his rivals after being green-lamped into $5.4 and sent out as third favourite.

“Danny and I knew he could do this and today he carried a light weight and he loved the track conditions. Before the race we had confidence he would show something and we’re glad he did,” Poon said after Romantic Thor kept on strongly to beat Gentlemen Legacy by half a length.

“I didn’t feel like he was stopping at any stage and after the 1,000m, I asked him to increase the speed gradually and he was able to continue to the winning post. He was not going to be easy to catch for the other horses because they were also spending energy.

“So, the race worked out pretty much as we expected and we’re very happy it did.”

Shum was confident that the front runner would be able to put in a solid performance over the trip with the benefit of the light weight.

“I’m confident he can stay 2,400m, especially today,” Shum said.

“Look at the Group races – always the lightweight has got an advantage first. The second thing is; today he was the front runner – and also put on the fence – he got all the advantages. He’s a lightweight, he can go in front, he can control the pace. So, he had everything to benefit him.

“Matthew, he controlled the pace fantastic. I always say Matthew is a very good jockey.”

Poon echoed Shum’s sentiment that the 2,400m trip would be an ideal distance.

“I trialled this horse a long time ago and he gave me the feeling he was very one-paced but he could stay, but he needed a suitable distance and we knew he would keep going,” Poon said.

Looking forward, the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) on May 24 seems a likely target, where Romantic Thor would take on stablemate and 14-time Group One winner Romantic Warrior.

“I need to talk to [owner] Peter [Lau Pak-fai]. I think he will [go to the Champions & Chater], so we have a pacemaker. It’d be nice to have two runners in it,” Shum said.

The son of Justify, previously trained by Aidan O’Brien, had recorded two wins and three minor placings from five starts in Europe, including the Listed Dee Stakes (2,064m) at Chester. After being imported as a Derby prospect, he suffered a setback due to a right hind ligament injury and resumed racing in October last year.

After competing exclusively in Class Three company this term, Shum entered Romantic Thor in the Queen Mother Memorial Cup following encouragement from Lau.

“I need to thank the owner, Peter, because he made the decision,” Shum said.

“He was talking to me and he said ‘run in the QEII Cup.’ I said ‘run in the Queen Mother Memorial Cup. He said ‘I think this horse has a dirt base, born in Ireland; he’ll be really strong. He can handle 2,000m in Ireland, so he can sure handle 2,400m. And only once in the year is the Queen Mother Memorial Cup. Put him in,’ – so it’s all his effort.”

Poon was thrilled to win the race for a second time – both for Shum – after claiming the 2021 edition aboard Butterfield.

“Danny has given me a second Group Three in the same race – Danny is a brilliant trainer and I’m so glad to ride this winner for him,” Poon said.

Outside of the winner, the Tony Cruz-trained Gentleman Legacy ran a game second after tracking the winner from barrier one. Popping off the heels of Romantic Thor when turning for home, the Showtime gelding couldn’t run down the leader when carrying the top weight of 135lb, but proved his capability over 2,400m.

Winning Wing, who also carried top weight, finished strongly for third. Taken back from barrier five after showing little early toe, he sat second last for most of the trip before Dylan Mo Hin-tung commenced his run from the 600m and loomed wide out, but was unable to run down Romantic Thor and Gentleman Legacy who had far better runs up front.

Nautical Force, the $2.6 favourite, ran a distant fourth and pulled up with substantial blood in the trachea, while Stunning Peach, Fortune Boy and Joy Of Spring rounded out the field.

Poon went on to secure a race-to-race double aboard the Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Volcanic Spark when overhauling Vermilion Tempest by a neck. Coming into the race having placed at three of his last four starts, the six-year-old was saved for one final run at his rivals, which paid dividends.

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