Ahead of Romantic Warrior’s highly anticipated return in Sunday week’s (17 November) HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m), trainer Danny Shum’s superstar weaved his way through an eye-catching workout at Sha Tin this morning (Monday, 4 November) in preparation.
Breaking cleanly under jockey Hugh Bowman, Romantic Warrior settled near the tail of the field before steadily making ground between runners to clock 1m 08.73s in first position over 1200m on dirt, ahead of California Spangle and Victor The Winner, respectively.
"The eye doesn't lie – from where I was sitting it looked pretty good. He's in good shape and he had a good blow after it but he recovered quickly. He's on track," Bowman said.
The earner of HK$151.92 million, Romantic Warrior won five straight races at Group 1 level last season – including the 2023 G1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) in Australia and 2024 G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) in Japan.
The six-year-old Acclamation gelding will aim to become the first horse to win the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) three times when he lines up on 8 December.
"He was there to have a good workout and that's what he did. He had a good break before I rode him in his first trial, then he had the longer trial and he was good, and he was better again today – he looks amazing and physically he's very sound, fit looking, and mentally he's the full package," Bowman said.
California Memory (2011 & 2012) and Romantic Warrior (2022 & 2023) are the only two-time winners of the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup.
Victory at the HK$126 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races assures Romantic Warrior becomes the world's highest earning horse – with HK$22.4 million on offer for first place – by leapfrogging current leader Golden Sixty (HK$167.17 million).
The Hong Kong International Sale graduate has been slated for an ambitious Middle East campaign in 2025, featuring potential runs in the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) and G1 Dubai World Cup (2000m, dirt), where he'll face unrelenting kickback on the surface and fierce competition from the United States of America.
The Saudi Cup is run on 22 February in Riyadh, while the Dubai World Cup is staged on 5 April in Dubai.
Bowman later trialled the Group 1-winning Invincible Sage, who finished second in 1m 09.86s in heat two this morning over 1200m on dirt. Straight Arron finished sixth in the same trial, while Happy Together was eighth.
"That's the happiest I've been this prep. That was a really good trial, he's moving well and he felt great," Bowman said.
Meanwhile, Derek Leung returned satisfied after Victor The Winner's third placing. The speedster had his first trial back in Hong Kong after he was unplaced in 29 September's G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama in Japan.
"He jumped nicely. He pulled up ok. Everything seems alright, he pulled up and he wasn't too tired but he had a nice blow," Leung said.
Third first-up behind Ka Ying Rising in the HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) in October, California Spangle delighted regular partner Brenton Avdulla.
"I'm happy with him. Obviously, it was a pretty strongly run trial when you have Victor The Winner and Me Tsui's horse (Candlelight Dinner) in there and I just kept him comfortable and in a good rhythm," Avdulla said.
"I let him do a little bit without overdoing it and Romantic Warrior was pushed to get past him. I think he's come on and he's improving. He's not at 100 per cent yet but he's not far away."
