Romantic Warrior gallops at Sha Tin ahead of Voyage Bubble clash

Everything about Romantic Warrior indicates the champion is in excellent order, and Danny Shum’s star will need to be when he seeks a fourth straight HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) win at Sha Tin on 14 December.

Romantic Warrior will return in Sunday week’s (23 November) HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m), marking 232 days between races – a period when the 10-time Group 1 winner underwent left fore fetlock surgery following his pioneering and lucrative three-race Middle East campaign.

Chasing a third BOCHK Jockey Club Cup after triumphs in 2022 and 2024, Romantic Warrior – the highest-earning horse in racing history (HK$214.70 million) – reunited with regular partner James McDonald this morning (Tuesday, 11 November).

Entering Sha Tin’s turf track via the sand ring, Romantic Warrior powered down the back stretch ahead of his work partner (Romantic Thor) with McDonald firmly in control. In the home straight, the bay gelding was given some rein, zipping effortlessly past a collection of press and photographers with ease before returning home under Shum’s close eye after clocking 1m 14.7s (26.3, 25.8, 22.6).

McDonald, who takes six rides at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (12 November) to commence a short-term contract, returned beaming and said: “He feels every bit as good as what he’s worked like in the past. He looks fantastic. Danny has done a great job with him – he was great. It will take a good one to beat him.

“I jumped out of bed pretty quickly this morning, that was for sure. He was my first ride and he just looks phenomenal – he’s prepping up nicely.”

Romantic Warrior faces Voyage Bubble in the BOCHK Jockey Club Cup, who also tuned up today with jockey Zac Purton for trainer Ricky Yiu. Equally rated on 134 in Hong Kong, the city’s leading middle-distance horses boast a combined 15 Group 1 victories as they prepare to battle it out over their next two appearances.

Purton said: “I thought his trial was good. He seems like a different horse to when I was riding him before. He seems as though he’s matured a lot and he does everything right to help himself. I thought he went well.”

Voyage Bubble was successful in the HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m), HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) and HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) last season to become the second Triple Crown winner after River Verdon (1993/94).

The seven-year-old Deep Field gelding closed off into third behind Beauty Waves and Lucky Sweynesse in a time of 1m 10.55s over 1200m on the dirt today.

Purton was atop Voyage Bubble when he finished a cracking second to Romantic Warrior in the 2024 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup. Voyage Bubble was 12th in the HK$5.35 million G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) first-up in October.

“Last time I rode Voyage Bubble at the 2000 (metres) against Romantic Warrior, we were within a neck of him and got away from the rest of the field,” Purton said. “Voyage Bubble has improved since then as has Romantic Warrior, who has done great things. I think it’ll just come down to who gets the run on the day.”

Vincent Ho is hoping Speed Dragon (132lb) can remain unbeaten this season when he steps from barrier five in the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Shing Yip Handicap (1650m) at Happy Valley tomorrow night.

“He is a quality horse. He had some issues last season, but he’s had a nice preparation and he performed well (first-up),” Ho said. “I was confident he could win. All of his trials and work in the morning showed to me that he could do it. He’s pretty honest and he’s working well after that win. He’s probably improved a little bit after his last run.”

First-up last month over 1800m at the city circuit, Francis Lui’s Speed Dragon bested quality opposition, including Encountered, winner of last Sunday’s (9 November) HK$4.2 million G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin.

Taj Dragon (132lb), Markwin (130lb), Sing Dragon (128lb), Soleil Fighter (128lb), Mr Ascendency (126lb), Gustosisimo (124lb), Keefy (123lb), Telecom Fighters (123lb), Huge Wave (121lb), Sky Heart (121lb) and Fallon (120lb) also contest the Class 2 finale.

Wednesday’s (12 November) nine-race fixture at Happy Valley kicks off at 6.40pm with the Class 5 Bedford Handicap (1650m).