Romantic Warrior turned away some of the world’s best horses with disdain to claim a record-extending fourth win in the Group One QEII Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday as he continued to etch his name in Hong Kong racing folklore.

The Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained global star looked to have his biggest test yet in facing Japan’s rising force Masquerade Ball and France’s Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) winner Sosie, but there was barely a moment’s worry for his legion of supporters at Sha Tin.

Sent off the imperious $1.3 favourite, Romantic Warrior settled fourth in a slowly run race behind Numbers, but was always well settled under James McDonald and always looked to be travelling the best.

Given an inch of rein down the middle of the track, the sprightly eight-year-old took over under soft riding at the 300m pole and McDonald sprinted clear in a matter of strides, leaving world-class rivals toiling in his wake.

Jockey Christophe Lemaire said Masquerade Ball had the potential to be “one of the greatest” Japanese horses earlier in the week, but even the Japan Cup second had no answers for the Warrior, getting to within a length at the line. Sosie kept on gallantly to finish third.

He may now be an eight-year-old, but advancing years are clearly not catching up to Romantic Warrior and Shum has no plans to retire his stable star yet.

“I’m thankful I have Romantic Warrior, and Romantic Warrior is also thankful for me. My team has done a lot of hard work with him,” Shum said.

“He’s been in good form this season; I don’t remember him losing over 2,000m – it’s his best distance in Hong Kong. I was quite confident he could win this.

“I don’t tell him he’s eight years old, I always keep telling him he’s five only! That is a joke, but he races very easily and he’s very good. He’s a super, super champion.”

It was a 16th win aboard Romantic Warrior for McDonald, but the gloss certainly has not come off the partnership for the Kiwi jockey, who is still living the dream every time he hops on board.

“It was touted to be his toughest test and I’ve got to pay Danny and his team so much admiration for how he’s got this horse ready – he’s just a dream come true. He literally is a dream come true for us,” McDonald said.

“I’m the lucky one to be riding him and Danny’s the lucky one to be training him but just anything you have to do with this horse is what dreams are made of.

“He took a while to pull up, he’s got plenty of life in his legs yet but it’s an absolute privilege.”

Shum also reserved plenty of praise for McDonald, while also confirming Romantic Warrior is still on track for the Triple Crown, with the final leg being the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) on May 24.

“[McDonald] is the number one jockey in the world. He loves Romantic Warrior and Romantic Warrior loves him,” Shum said.

“I have to speak to [owner] Peter [Lau Pak-fai] about the Triple Crown, but why not – there’s a $10 million bonus and [Voyage] Bubble did it, so hopefully Romantic Warrior can hopefully do it too.”

Masquerade Ball lost little in defeat to finish second, having to make ground from the rear of the field in a slowly run race.

His final 400m was just 0.15 seconds slower than Ka Ying Rising in the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m), suggesting that he could have finished closer with a stronger pace to aim at, and Lemaire was full of praise for his willing partner.

“It was a close one. The pace wasn’t that strong, but he showed a great turn of foot in the last 200 to 300m. I think he’ll keep improving going forward,” Lemaire said.

Sosie’s jockey Maxime Guyon was another to lump praise on his mount, with the Hong Kong Vase winner running with a huge amount of credit over a trip short of his best.

“We had a perfect race. He went really good. Just the two horses in front of me were really good. But for the first time for him. He’s perfect. He can improve after this run and he can win a Group One this year again,” Guyon said.

Comments