Romantic Warrior Continues on his Winning Way in Hong Kong Cup

Mark Smith - Sunday December 11

With James McDonald in the saddle, Hong Kong Derby winner Romantic Warrior (IRE) put a class field to the sword in Sunday’s Group 1 The Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin.

Glorious shot by Alex Evers of James McDonald saluting on Romantic Warrior

With the scalp of California Spangle on his belt in the Derby, Romantic Warrior (IRE) was in a race of his own over the final 200m.

The Danny Shum-trained son of Acclamation defeated Danon The Kid (JPN) (Just A Way) by four and a half lengths, with Money Catcher (NZ) (Ferlax) a half-length back in third.

It was the third consecutive win for Romantic Warrior (IRE), advancing his record to nine wins from ten starts.

His only loss came when fourth in the Hong Kong Classic Cup in February, won by  California Spangle.

Honoured last season as the Champion 4YO & Middle Distance Horse in Hong Kong, Romantic Warrior (IRE) was a 300,000gns purchase for the Hong Kong Jockey Club at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2.

He is the best of three winners from as many to race for the Street Cry (IRE) mare Folk Melody, a daughter of the Group 1 EP Taylor Stakes and Group II Prix Jean Romanet winner Folk Opera (Singspiel). 

Advertisment

Race Result - The Longines Hong Kong Cup Gr1 2000m

Sha Tin Track: Good Time: 1:59.70
1
Romantic Warrior
T: C S Shum J: J B Mc Donald 57
5g Acclamation (GB) x Folk Melody (IRE) (Street Cry (IRE))
2
4.5
Danon The Kid
T: Takayuki Yasuda J: Y Kitamura 57
5h Just A Way (JPN) x Epic Love (IRE) (Dansili (GB))
3
5.0
Money Catcher
T: F C Lor J: S De Sousa 57
5g Ferlax (NZ) x Warren's Sister (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
4
6.3
Tourbillon Diamond
T: C S Shum J: J Bowman 57
6g Olympic Glory (IRE) x Modave (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
5
6.4
Russian Emperor
T: D Whyte J: B Shinn 57
6g Galileo (IRE) x Atlantic Jewel (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
6
6.8
Geoglyph
T: T Kimura J: W Buick 56
4h Drefong (USA) x Aromatico (JPN) (King Kamehameha (JPN))
7
7.3
Jack D'Or
T: K Fujioka J: Y Take 57
5h Maurice (JPN) x Ravarino (USA) (Unbridled's Song (USA))
8
9.0
Ka Ying Star
T: A S Cruz J: Luke Ferraris 57
8g Cityscape (GB) x Casual Glance (GB) (Sinndar (IRE))
9
9.8
Lei Papale
T: Tomokazu Takano J: J Moreira 55.5
6m Deep Impact (JPN) x Shells Lei (JPN) (Kurofune (USA))
10
14.3
Panthalassa
T: Yoshito Yahagi J: Y Yoshida 57
6h Lord Kanaloa (JPN) x Miss Pemberley (IRE) (Montjeu (IRE))
11
21.3
Order Of Australia
T: A O'Brien J: Ryan Moore 57
6h Australia (GB) x Senta's Dream (GB) (Danehill (USA))
12
21.4
Savvy Nine
T: D Whyte J: K Teetan 57
7g Anodin (IRE) x Insan Mala (IRE) (Bahhare (USA))
More Reading...
Entries Open for the World’s Best Breeze Up Sale
Entries for NZB’s 2024 Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds are now open, with the Sale set to be held at the Karaka Sales Centre on 20 and 21 November.  
One to Watch – Sale
Bred to be an Oaks filly, this Kiwi bred two year-old filly made a winning debut at Sale on Thursday carrying the famous Pride of Jenni colours.
Mares in foal Proisir, Too Darn Hot, Anamoe Highlight Strong Inglis July (Early) Sale
A mare with one of the hottest current pedigrees in the Australian Stud Book – in foal to sire sensation Proisir – headlines a quality catalogue for the Inglis Digital July (Early) Online Sale.
Japan Salutes a Champion as Romantic Warrior Triumphs in Yasuda Kinen
A lather of sweat before the start, Hong Kong’s favourite son, Romantic Warrior (IRE), added another chapter to his illustrious story with victory in the $3,264,000 Group 1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) at Tokyo on Sunday.
A Third Legend Salutes as Romantic Warrior Goes Back-to-Back in Hong Kong Cup
After Lucky Sweynesse won the Sprint and Golden Sixty claimed a third win in the Mile, it was the turn of the Cox Plate hero Romantic Warrior (IRE) to defend his title in the Group 1 The Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and send the packed-out crowd home happy.
Sidestep Filly Wins by Five
A few weeks ago we made mention of the promising trial performance from Winx’s two year-old three-quarter sister Wings of Desire, who surged home for second in a heat at Randwick won by three year-old filly Are Ee Que, who franked that form when bolting in at Goulburn on Friday.
Zoustar Cracks 200 Australian Winners for Season
Widden Stud’s champion sire Zoustar was the world’s leading sire of winners in 2023 and passed a milestone on Friday when racking up his 200th Australian winner of the season and shortly after his 201st!
Best On Breeding
Despite being a stakes-placed daughter of Redoute's Choice from a family chockful of stakes-winners, Pleiades had worn out her welcome after eight seasons at Darley Stud and found herself in the Godolphin consignment heading to the 2023 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.
Quality trio of Rich Hill mares in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
Partly thanks to the meteoric rise of Rich Hill Stud stallions Proisir and Satono Aladdin, the three well-credentialled broodmare prospects being offered by the stud on Gavelhouse Plus this week are among the highest-profile entries in the 2024 National Online Breeding Stock Sale.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 5
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.