Romantic Warrior trials as Danny Shum eyes LONGINES Hong Kong Cup three-peat

by Declan Schuster

Romantic Warrior coasted through a barrier trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning (17 September) as trainer Danny Shum’s eight-time Group 1 winner prepares to return in 17 November’s HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m).

Romantic Warrior clocked 57.52s in second position over 1000m on turf under Hugh Bowman, a short head behind Macau import Wonderstar.

The Hong Kong International Sale graduate’s first major target is to win an unprecedented third HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on 8 December at Sha Tin before potentially shipping to the Middle East and Japan in 2025.

The six-year-old is owned by Peter Lau, who last season campaigned Romantic Warrior to Australia and Japan, where he won the G1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) and G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m), respectively. Romantic Warrior also won a trio of top-level races at home last term.

“He’s been relaxed since the Yasuda Kinen. It was a good trial, Hugh is happy with him, too. It’s just a trial to remind him that the race is coming soon,” Shum said.

Romantic Warrior won the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup in 2022 and 2023 under James McDonald. California Memory is the only other horse to win the race twice (2011 & 2012).

“He’ll return in the Jockey Club Cup. I don’t think the field will be too strong. The Hong Kong Cup is another story with overseas horses coming, especially from Japan and also Aidan O’Brien’s horses, so it’s hard to tell at the moment, but he’s also the one to beat,” Shum said.

Romantic Warrior requires two Group 1 wins to match Golden Sixty’s Hong Kong record (10), while his earnings of HK$151.92 million is also closing in on Golden Sixty’s world-record figure (HK$167.17 million).

“The owner and myself, we’re very excited. He’s already been invited to run in the Saudi Cup (G1, 1800m, dirt). It is a big question mark (racing on dirt for the first time) but it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“I know it’s tough because he won’t come back for a while, but I will run him in the Saudi Cup and then in the Dubai World Cup (G1, 2000m, dirt). I am talking to the JRA (Japan Racing Association) already to see whether I can send him straight to Japan from Dubai. It’s very exciting and it will be a very long trip – it will take five to six months,” Shum said.

The Saudi Cup is run at Riyadh on 22 February. The Dubai World Cup takes place on 5 April at Meydan.

Victor The Winner departed for Japan alongside Mugen this morning, where both horses will contest the G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama.

“It’s hard for Victor The Winner to win here in Hong Kong, there’s too many good sprinters up-and-coming, and his rating is high. This is why he’s going to Japan, if he can run in the first three or four then he gets good prize money,” Shum said.

“Nakayama is a bit like Happy Valley (short straight). I have Joao Moreira on and he knows the track, I texted him the runners and he knows all of them. Hopefully, it helps.”

Chancheng Glory finished sixth behind Romantic Warrior this morning in 58.75s.

Three-time Group 1 winner California Spangle crossed the line first in the second trial over 1000m on turf for trainer Tony Cruz and jockey Brenton Avdulla in 57.65s.

The Irish-bred is expected to return this season in the HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) on 20 October at Sha Tin.

Avdulla also partnered Beauty Joy for Cruz over 1200m on the dirt, clocking 1m 10.62s, while unbeaten sprinter Bottomuptogether finished second to California Spangle in 57.73s for trainer Frankie Lor.

“He trialled good. He’s still a little bit strong, I hope after this trial he can relax more. I will run him at Sha Tin on Saturday week (28 September) over 1200 metres,” Lor said.

2024 HK$22 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) winner Invincible Sage clocked 58.62s in the third batch out in front under Bowman for trainer David Hall.

“He was in a low-class trial which probably made things a bit easier for him. He wasn’t under too much pressure and he loves the straight. He’s jumped out a bit at the start but he got into a nice rhythm and Hugh was happy with him. It should bring him on,” Hall said.

Hall is seeking a return for the sprinter in the HK$4.2 million G3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) on 1 October at Sha Tin.

Formerly known as Capulet and trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien, Romantic Thor had his first trial. He finished seventh over a mile on turf in 1m 37.69s.