Hugh Bowman is hoping to halt Romantic Warrior’s Triple Crown bid when the Australian rider gets legged up on overseas raider Rousham Park in the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) on 24 May at Sha Tin.

Bowman defeated Romantic Warrior in the 2023 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup when Russian Emperor edged past the 14-time Group 1 winner, giving the Australian a second win in the contest after also partnering Werther to success in 2017.

Sha Tin Selections
(Wednesday, May 06, 2026)

By Leo Schlink

Romantic Thor almost certainly earned a tilt at the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) after the Irish import revelled in rain-affected conditions to claim the HK$4.2 million G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (3 May).

Given a perfectly judged ride, Romantic Thor (116lb) led throughout to defeat Gentlemen Legacy (129lb) by half a length with Winning Wing (135lb), one-and-a-quarter lengths further back in third in 2m 30.76s to triumph for the first time in Hong Kong.

Croix du Nord became the first Japanese Derby winner in nearly 20 years to win the Grade 1 spring running of the Tenno Sho at Kyoto Racecourse in Japan on Sunday.

Croix du Nord was favored, paying $4.20 in American pools, and won in a more dramatic manner than expected in the $3.66 million race at two miles.

Bow Echo easily won the 2000 Guineas on Saturday at Newmarket Racecourse, remaining unbeaten after four starts while looking like an unusual talent.

By Paul Ryding

Nautical Force will look to build on a striking debut success when he steps up to 2400 metres in Sunday’s (3 May) G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap at Sha Tin, with trainer John Size and rider Karis Teetan confident there is more to come.

The British-bred import produced a blistering late turn of foot to score his maiden Hong Kong victory in a Class 2 1800m contest against a field of more experienced rivals, several of whom he will meet again on Sunday.

Sha Tin Selections
(Sunday, May 03, 2026 )

Croix du Nord was the champion 2-year-old male in Japan in 2024, the winner of the 2025 Japanese Derby, and a Grade 1 winner earlier this year in the $3.6 million Osaka Hai at Hanshin Racecourse in April.

On Sunday at Kyoto Racecourse, Croix du Nord has a different assignment – starting for the first time at two miles in the Grade 1 spring running of the Tenno Sho.

Croix du Nord is widely expected to achieve another Grade 1 win in the marathon test.

The future-book favorite for Saturday’s Group 1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide was stuck on the also-eligible list as of Wednesday.

Accidental Bid, trained by Ciaron Maher, was 2-1, but is the first alternate. He will draw into the field should there be a scratch among the 16 runners entered in the $712,700 South Australian Derby at about 1 9/16 miles.

Accidental Bid has had a different career for a 3-year-old starting in a major stakes in the Southern Hemisphere autumn.