ROMANTIC WARRIOR – A NEW CHAMPION IN THE MAKING

By Darren Winningham | Sunday, December 10, 2023

I am very confident that come Sunday at Sha Tin we may see the emergence of a new Hong Kong champion in the making - Romantic Warrior.

The multiple Group 1 winner who journeyed to Australia and competed overseas winning the time-honoured Cox Plate (Group 1) in October at Moonee Valley has returned to Hong Kong and has done everything right.

I spoke with the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges about the exploits of Romantic Warrior on the international stage and what this success meant for Hong Kong racing.

“I think, in short, Hong Kong horses are globally competitive. Some people say it is only in Hong Kong and they cannot compete outside. Romantic Warrior proved them all wrong,” said Engelbrecht-Bresges

At the barrier draw at Sha Tin on Thursday morning owner Peter Lau Pak-fai was full of praise for Romantic Warrior saying: “It is very good for myself and Hong Kong racing. Winning in Australia was like winning a gold medal at the Olympics. It lifted the morale of the whole city.”

And who can ever forget the 2022 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup when James McDonald took Romantic Warrior to the lead and he surged away to win by an emphatic 4.5 lengths demoralising a world class opposition.

Mr Lau Pak-fai drew barrier 7 for Romantic Warrior.

There seems to be a winning theme with the number 7 and Romantic Warrior. If you look at the history of the barrier draws, he did draw barrier 7 in last year's race and then again drew barrier 7 in the Cox Plate. Will it be “lucky 7” again on Sunday?

Mr Lau Pak-fai added that after Romantic Warrior returned to Hong Kong from Australia, “he eats better since coming home and his body weight is back to normal.”

James McDonald has reported to the owner after riding him in the barrier trials and at work that “he is even in better condition than what he was in Australia. I think he wins on Sunday”.

I think this weekend in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (Group 1) with the highest prize money offered in the world for a race at this distance (HK$36 million) we will see Romantic Warrior win again – and I hope that we see the jubilant scenes of James McDonald again when he crosses the line and after the race as we all witnessed in 2022.

For mine Romantic Warrior to slay them again in 2023!

More articles