Romantic Warrior creates Hong Kong Cup history Romantic Warrior secured his place in the record books as he won an unprecedented third Longines Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin. The six-year-old had been hailed as “the perfect racehorse” by jockey James McDonald ahead of the 10-furlong Group One and he lived up to his billing with a comfortable victory over Japanese star Liberty Island. Aidan O’Brien’s Wingspan set the early pace with McDonald settling Romantic Warrior in fourth, moving slightly off the rail from his draw in stall one to ensure a clear passage throughout the race. Given the signal to kick on a furlong and a half from home, the Danny Shum-trained Romantic Warrior moved up a gear and kicked away from the chasing Liberty Island, with McDonald having enough in hand to turn and hail the crowd well before the line. McDonald said of the length-and-a-half winner: “I’m so proud of this horse. It’s been a remarkable effort by Danny and his team. “Forget the rest, he’s the best. He’s been flying. Anyone could ride him he’s that easy, but I’m the lucky one. He’s the horse of a lifetime.” Further exciting challenges now await Romantic Warrior, including the Saudi Cup – the world’s most valuable race. Shum said: “He’s the best, but I have to take another bigger challenge to go to Dubai and Saudi Arabia, just because I haven’t been to Dubai for 25 years. “At that time, I was assistant trainer for Mr Ivan Allan, I had a new experience. I will make sure the team that go there are in the best form. “The owner Mr Peter Lau said it’s a once in a life chance to take the challenge in Saudi Arabia for the top prize-money in the world. We are experimenting with dirt but I’ve tried him in an all-weather trial with a pacifier and he was quite good.” Andrew Balding’s outsider The Foxes made a late charge to grab fourth place and a prize of over £240,000, while Spirit Dancer, O’Brien’s first string Content and Wingspan were all unplaced. McDonald was completing a big-race double after earlier steering the Ricky Yiu-trained Voyage Bubble to victory in the Longines Hong Kong Mile. The six-year-old travelled well throughout and seized the initiative with two furlongs to run, going to record a length-and-a-quarter win over Soul Rush and improve on his second place of last year. McDonald said: “He’s a great horse in his own right. He felt excellent going to the gates today – he was really on the job. Credit to Ricky and his team – they’ve prepped him up beautifully. “He just gives his all. He has a very big heart and he’s very uncomplicated.” Harry Eustace’s Docklands and the James Ferguson-trained Ramadan finished down the field. Local speedster Ka Ying Rising overcame a tardy start to win the Longines Hong Kong Sprint. The four-year-old was widely expected to star in the six-furlong heat having won his last seven starts and smashed a long-standing track record on his most recent run. However, he was slow to break for Zac Purton and rather than sprinting clear at the finish, he had to battle Helios Express and Satono Reve to secure the win. Purton said of the David Hayes-trained winner: “Something lunged at the gate just before he went and it took his mind off it and he turned his head, so he was a little bit slow to step and then Victor The Winner just bore my neck the whole way and he never quite relaxed the way he has. “He was working the whole way and never had time to relax. He wasn’t at his best today and is better than this but still got the job done.” Ralph Beckett’s British raider Starlust could not add to his Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint triumph, racing on the heels of the leaders before dropping back in the straight.
