Romantic Warrior dazzled in front of his adoring Sha Tin fans once again on Sunday to win the Hong Kong Gold Cup.
The eight-year-old Hong Kong superstar had landed the Gold Cup in 2024 and having skipped the event in 2025 in favour of a run in Saudi Arabia, reclaimed his crown in imperious style, surging to an easy four-length victory under big-race pilot James McDonald, who was even able to ease down late on.
The victory was not only Romantic Warrior’s 13th at the highest level but gave Danny Shum’s leading light his second leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown, having also won the Stewards’ Cup in January. The final leg is the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, which is staged at the end of May.
His loyal jockey was full of praise for his star mount, saying after the race: “He’s just beautifully prepared.
“Danny’s just done a marvellous job, and each and every time I hop on him, I just cherish the moment. I feel so special every time and you look between his ears and he’s just so alert.”
Romantic Warrior appears set to go in search of a fourth FWD QEII Cup on April 26 before attempting to complete the Triple Crown in May.
Shum said: “I think he will now go to the QEII Cup and then to the Champions & Chater before he finishes the season.
“Maybe next season we will go to the Saudi Cup – we will keep everything open for now.”
Elsewhere on the card, Harry Bentley secured his biggest success yet in Hong Kong when delivering Stormy Grove with a sensational late run to land the Hong Kong Classic Cup.
