Romantic Warrior claimed redemption when winning a dramatic running of the Group One Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) to seal the Triple Crown title at Sha Tin on Sunday.

After being narrowly defeated in the 2023 edition, Danny Shum Chap-shing’s champion galloper completed the treble of the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m), Group One Gold Cup (2,000m) and Champions & Chater when taking out the final leg by half a length over Numbers in a thrilling battle in the concluding stages.

A tactical race saw stablemate Romantic Thor lead while Numbers raced keenly to his outside, with Derek Leung Ka-chun giving Numbers his rein from the 800m and Romantic Thor going with him.

The leaders set up a gap at the bend that gave Romantic Warrior plenty to chase and the champion showed his qualities to wear Numbers down.

Jockey James McDonald was thrilled to share the achievement with Romantic Warrior when becoming the only jockey to win back-to-back Triple Crowns after he and Voyage Bubble became the first in 31 years to claim the feat last season.

“He’s a Triple Crown winner, he thoroughly deserved it. I read an article, the boss [Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges] said he was already an immortal and I totally agree with him,” McDonald said.

“He didn’t need to win this to be that. I think this is the cherry on top – he should be horse of the year this year. I think he stamped that by winning the Triple Crown.”

Shum was thrilled to see the eight-year-old win his 15th Group One, taking his prize money beyond HK$288 million with the addition of the HK$10 million Triple Crown bonus.

“I feel such a ‘warrior’, and I’m such a lucky guy, lucky trainer – because I train Romantic Warrior,” Shum said.

While it was a true battle until the end, Shum and McDonald’s pre-race plan came to fruition.

“Before the race we already set up the plan; put him to sleep, let him relax, and try to hit the front. He hit the line in the last 400m, so James has done a great job, he’s top-class jockey,” Shum said.

Following an unblemished season that consisted of five Group One victories, Romantic Warrior is likely to have a break at Conghua’s world-class facilities.

“The plan is to give him a break. I will think about whether to send him to Conghua, same as Ka Ying Rising – Mr Hayes says Ka Ying Rising is very happy. 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. [Owner] Peter [Lau Pak-fai] always makes the right decisions and James McDonald is a very good jockey.”

In a dramatic turn of events, stewards opened an inquiry after the race into whether there were grounds for objection after Romantic Warrior closed a gap on Japanese runner Deep Monster at the 150m, however the inquiry was dismissed – to the relief of the crowd – when not enough grounds were found.

Stewards found McDonald guilty of careless riding, hitting the world’s best jockey with a three-meeting ban and fine of HK$120,000.

Deep Monster, ridden by Joao Moreira, went on to post a third placing, while Romantic Thor backed up his Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m) win carrying a bigger weight to run an admirable fourth.

The honest Winning Wing lost no admirers when placing fifth with Dylan Mo Hin-tung aboard after receiving a heroes’ ovation from the public in the parade ring pre-race.

Japanese contender Rousham Park was given every chance by Hugh Bowman but continued to struggle at Sha Tin when having his third start at the track, failing to make an impression in the run home and finishing well back.

Ka Ying Generation, Gentlemen Legacy and Cap Ferrat rounded out the final finishers.

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