It was a clinical victory by the Hong Kong champion, poised throughout in fourth on the rail before dispatching of his rivals soon upon straightening, winning the Hong Kong International Cup by 1.5 lengths by Liberty Island with Tastiera third.
“It’s been a remarkable effort by Danny [Shum] and his team,” winning jockey James McDonald said.
“The Japanese put it to him but with no luck.
“He is the best.”
The victory means Romantic Warrior is the first horse in the history of the Hong Kong International Cup to win three renewals of the event, previously having been tied with California Memory as the only pair to have won the prestigious 2000m contest twice.
“He has been flying,” McDonald said.
“Anyone could ride him, he’s that easy but I’m the lucky one, he’s the horse of a lifetime.
“This was our moment to create history and it deadest felt like I was lining up for the winning kick for the All Blacks, it was a pinch me moment.”
Danny Shum cut a relieved figure post-race as anticipation for how the people’s champion in Romantic Warrior would perform in the Cup during the weeks prior both in Hong Kong and racing circles throughout the world hit fever pitch.
“I apologize I didn’t talk to you guys in the last week,” Shum said.
“But I always think I work hard, better than I talk.”
“I stay in the stable for the whole time and I didn’t want to go out to talk too much because my boss always teach me, Mr Ivan Allen, work hard brings luck. So I always keep it in my mind. I work really hard, I love my team and keep doing a great job as well.”
With a historic third straight Hong Kong International Cup now achieved, connections can now focus on planned 2025 goals for the six-year-old.
The main target is the $20million Group 1 Saudi Cup (1800m) in February at Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Racecourse on dirt, a surface Romantic Warrior has yet to tackle under race conditions.
“The owner, Mr Peter Lau, said it’s a once in a lifetime chance to take a challenge in Saudi Arabia, the top prize money in the world,” Shum said.
“Even though we explained it’s dirt, he [Peter Lau] said, ‘if we never try, we don’t know.’
“I tried him on the dirt track in a trial with the with the pacifier and he was quite good.”
