Hong Kong racing community pays tribute to ‘complete package’ Romantic Warrior

The Hong Kong racing fraternity has paid tribute to Romantic Warrior following confirmation on Wednesday (2 September) that a leg injury has brought down the curtain on the career of the five-time Champion Middle-Distance Horse and two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year.

The Peter Lau-owned eight-year-old will be transferred from the yard of his trainer Danny Shum to Conghua to undergo rehabilitation before a later decision is made about where he will be retired.

The Hong Kong International Sale graduate ended his glittering racing career with a record of 24 wins from 31 starts, crowned by 15 Group 1 wins. He is also the highest-earning racehorse in history, amassing HK$288.74 million (approx. US$36.83 million) across one of racing’s finest careers.

The son of Acclamation has dominated Hong Kong racing in recent years, yet a selection of trainers who attempted the unenviable task of overhauling Romantic Warrior, as well as jockeys who competed against him, spoke about his impact on Hong Kong racing.

Many pointed to his blistering turn of foot, remarkable versatility and exceptional temperament, while others highlighted the intelligence and determination that made him such a formidable competitor.

Nine-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey Zac Purton noted Romantic Warrior’s unerring ability to produce a decisive kick when it mattered.

“He was a very hard horse to beat and a couple of times when I thought I had him beat, he would just find that bit extra when he needed. He knew where the winning post was,” Purton said.

“He just did everything right. He had good gate speed, put himself in the right spot, he was versatile. He could race on the speed or a little bit further back off it if the speed was hot. And he could do it at the top level from a mile (1600m), all the way to 2400 metres. I don’t think I’ve seen a horse as versatile as him in my time,” he added.

Master trainer John Size agreed that Romantic Warrior’s knack of finding the line set him apart.

“He seemed to know where the winning post was, and he knew how to get there first,” Size said. “He’s far and away better than any horse I’ve ever had. There’s nothing I’ve got to compare with that.”

Douglas Whyte was one of the few trainers to saddle a horse that beat Romantic Warrior at Group 1 level when Russian Emperor beat him by a neck in the 2023 G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m).

“I think Romantic Warrior was coming to the end of his preparation; he had had a long season, and he found himself in front in the Champions & Chater Cup. He didn’t really get a breather,” Whyte said. “It was a rain-affected track as well, which my horse obviously appreciated. So, circumstances helped me out, but (Romantic Warrior) is one of the best I’ve seen and one of the hardest to get past.

“He was nothing flashy to look at. But he certainly had heart and that dominance that he wants to win. When you get that in a horse, it just sets him apart from the rest,” he added.

Russian Emperor was ridden that day by Australian Racing Hall of Famer Hugh Bowman, who is perhaps best known for his long association with another racing great, the legendary mare Winx.

He also played a part in Romantic Warrior’s career, assisting trainer Shum with helping prepare the gelding in recent years.

“Over the last couple of years, I’ve just helped with some trials and a little bit of trackwork when required,” Bowman said. “He’s just a very special individual. He’s just got such a good temperament and such a good heart. They can’t beat him at 2000 metres.”

Bowman said Romantic Warrior was the only horse he would compare with 25-time Group 1 winner Winx.

“On the first day I rode him, in a gallop at Sha Tin, (he was) the only horse that I would say I could talk about in the same sentence as Winx. Whether he beats her or she beats him is a meaningless discussion, but I think it’s fair to compare the two.”

Karis Teetan was in the saddle for Romantic Warrior’s Four-Year-Old Classic Series campaign and rode him to victory in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m). He said while he and Shum knew they had something special in Romantic Warrior, they couldn’t have known how dominant he would go on to become.

“When I sat on him the first time, in the (Hong Kong) Classic Mile, he gave me a really good feel,” Teetan said. “Going towards the (BMW Hong Kong) Derby, he just gave me a lot of confidence. We knew we were on the right horse, and I’m not surprised where he’s ended up because the feel he gave me then, it just shows in what he’s gone and done.

“Honestly, I did not realise he would be that good. What he’s done in his career, season in, season out… He’s come back from injury and he’s actually performed even better. So, we knew he was a very good horse. He felt very special when I rode him.”

Mark Newnham trains My Wish, who will be aiming to take Romantic Warrior’s place as Hong Kong Champion Miler in the new season. Before making his Group 1 breakthrough in last season’s FWD Champions Mile (1600m), Newnham’s charge had twice trailed home behind James McDonald on Romantic Warrior.

“Well, it’s a difficult task when you look at his record,” Newnham said. “Really, you’ve got to hope that he doesn’t run up to his best, because his best is better than everybody else’s. You could only prepare your horse and hope that (Romantic Warrior) didn’t perform to his best. But that didn’t happen very often.

“His racing brain was what made him great. He was always quick out of the barrier, quick to get a position, relax and save energy. He had a good turn of foot and would fight hard. So, he was the complete package. He didn’t make any mistakes,” Newnham added.