Romantic Warrior edges California Spangle in Hong Kong Derby

Romantic Warrior wore down a dead-game California Spangle to win a stirring renewal of the $3.1 million Hong Kong Derby on Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse.

The result mirrored the Hong Kong Classic Mile, first in the 4-year-old classic series in which Romantic Warrior got up by a half-length over pacesetting California Spangle. California Spangle went wire to wire in the 1,800-meter Hong Kong Classic Cup, in which Romantic Warrior was undone by a terrible trip and finished fourth. These two geldings now have proven they’re the top 4-year-olds racing in Hong Kong.

There is not much between them and both horses probably prefer shorter distances than the 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) they raced Sunday. California Spangle especially likely will turn out to be more a sprinter-miler than a nine- or 10-furlong horse, but he and Zac Purton nearly won the Derby anyway.

Breaking sharply from post 10, a tough outside draw with a short run to the first of two turns, California Spangle led while rating kindly as Purton did all he could to back up the pace. Leaving the backstretch and going into the far turn, longshot Rocket Spade came up to challenge California Spangle, poking his head in front at one point as Purton and his mount sat chilly, holding their position. California Spangle quickly shrugged off Rocket Spade turning for home while drifting out a few paths, allowing Money Catcher to come through inside him and make a bid for the lead. California Spangle dug in, repelled Money Catcher, and braced for an outside run from Romantic Warrior.

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Romantic Warrior had run his record to 5 for 5 with his Classic Mile win, and it was not entirely the fault of jockey Karis Teetan that he lost the Classic Cup. Breaking from post 13, Romantic Warrior never could find a decent position stuck four paths wide with no cover around the race’s entire one turn. He ran creditably in defeat and trainer Danny Shum stuck with Teetan for one of Hong Kong’s most coveted prizes.

Romantic Warrior in the Derby broke from post 8 and got a relaxed mid-pack trip, racing two paths off the fence around both turns, as Teetan bided his time. Jockey swung horse about six wide turning for home and Romantic Warrior took care of business, bearing down relentlessly on the gallant California Spangle until he had won by a head.

“I just forgot what people were saying about the last run,” Teetan told Hong Kong publicity. “I knew the horse I had underneath me and I rode him positively and got him across nicely.”

Money Catcher finished third, same as in the Classic Cup, while deep closers Senor Toba and The Irishman, fifth and sixth in the Classic Cup, finished fourth and fifth in the Derby.

Irish-bred Romantic Warrior is by Acclamation out of Folk Melody, by Street Cry. He was picked out of an Irish sale by former jockey Mick Kinane and became the first Hong Kong Derby winner to pass through the Hong Kong International Sale. Shum plans to run the gelding back against older horses in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 1,600 meters.

Romantic Warrior, a 5-2 shot, was timed in 2:00.23, the second-fastest Derby behind Golden Sixty’s 2:00.15 in 2020 since the Hong Kong Jockey Club switched the Derby from 1,800 to 2,000 meters.