Regardless of pursuit, sustained excellence over a long period of time is the domain of only the most outstanding champions and ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s effort to post a Hong Kong record 13th Group 1 victory at Sha Tin on Sunday (1 March) was another timely reminder of this remarkable horse’s enduring greatness.
Now into his fifth Hong Kong season, ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s brilliance remains intact at eight years of age, even after fetlock surgery last year, and his effort to demolish his rivals by four lengths in the HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) demonstrated that he remains at the peak of imperious powers.
His extraordinary athletic talent and a liking for Sha Tin’s 2000m course which has now delivered 13 wins from 14 attempts at the distance aside, one of the most critical facets in ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s success has been the management of trainer Danny Shum who, along with the owner Mr Peter Lau, and champion jockey James McDonald, has routinely prioritised ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s well-being.
As a mentee of Ivan Allan, Danny has clearly absorbed the teachings of one of the most gifted trainers international racing has ever seen and his ability to get ROMANTIC WARRIOR to repeatedly peak in the world’s Group 1 best races – across four different racing jurisdictions – is fantastic.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s effort to surge powerfully away from the opposition with a final 400m section of 22.52s, with James not asking for the supreme effort, was further evidence of his great health and zest for racing.
With victory in the second leg of the Triple Crown, ROMANTIC WARRIOR is poised to become only the third horse in Hong Kong racing history to complete a clean sweep of the series after RIVER VERDON (1993/94) and VOYAGE BUBBLE (2024/25), provided he can land the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) on 24 May.
In preparation for the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, ROMANTIC WARRIOR will attempt to claim victory for a record-extending fourth time in the G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on 26 April at our FWD Champions Day meeting, which will also feature the world’s best sprinter KA YING RISING and showcase our world-class racing on the global stage.
With only 18 days until the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March, the focus on the city’s most treasured race continues to intensify with STORMY GROVE’S stunning victory in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on Sunday for Frankie Lor and Harry Bentley.
STORMY GROVE was very impressive clocking a race-best 23.04s split for the final 400m in sweeping from 11th place on the home turn with a devastating turn of foot and he is certain to be a contender particularly in a strongly-run BMW Hong Kong Derby.
However, there were several runners behind him who did not have the best of luck including LITTLE PARADISE, who missed the start and then bumped INFINITE RESOLVE at the 350m when searching for room, while NUMBERS did well to finish fourth – beaten only one and a half lengths – after clocking 21.70s between the 1600m and 1200m as he forged to the lead and was still in contention until very late in the race.
Unlike in some previous seasons when we have had a standout contender for the BMW Hong Kong Derby, this year’s Classic is by no means clear-cut, which adds to the fascination leading up to the running of the city’s most cherished race.
Hong Kong’s world-class racing continues at Happy Valley tonight (4 March) when we celebrate the collaboration of two magnificent international sports with the ‘Racing With Golf’ night in the Beer Garden.
Marking the imminent start of the HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong 2026 at Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling on Thursday (5 March), Happy Wednesday features an interactive mini-golf challenge loaded with HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong 2026 ticket perks, exclusive encounters with international professional golfers and wonderful music.
Blending the best of Hong Kong racing with a nine-race card, the HSBC LIV activation takes place against the background of the global grooves provided by the talented singer MsLolo and a dazzling troupe of dancers.
Happy Valley’s competitive highlight is the Class 3 Kwoon Chung Bus Cup Handicap, which is carded as Race 6 and will be run over 1200m at 9.15pm with prizemoney of HK$1.86 million.
The pace will be good with TOURBILLON GOLFER expected to lead from HARMONY N BLESSED, who will go forward under Harry Bentley from gate three. SPORTS LEGEND will be prominent from gate five, with SYMBOL OF STRENGTH and FLYING WROTE close to the speed.
SPORTS LEGEND won over this course and distance three starts back, beating FRIENDS OF SHAJING and LUCKY PLANET. Last start, SPORTS LEGEND jumped well and sat outside the leader before taking the lead on the turn and battled on well to finish second to SOVEREIGN FUND on 11 February. Angus Chung takes the ride again on SPORTS LEGEND and is a win and place chance.
Jerry Chau has been in brilliant form recently with four wins from his past 12 rides and combined with FLYING WROTE to win in Class 4 on 11 February, when he settled fifth and took a gap at the top of the straight to take the lead, holding on to beat MEOWTH and THE HEIR. FLYING WROTE steps up in class, but Jerry should have him in a good position from gate one and he is a place chance.
SYMBOL OF STRENGTH has been racing well over this course and distance and is working towards a win. At his latest run he sat fourth, one off the fence, and ran home well to be a close third to LUCKY PLANET and BEAUTY GLORY on 11 February. SYMBOL OF STRENGTH is a place chance for Luke Ferraris.
HEY BROS shaped well at his local debut when he settled at the back of the field and was doing his best work in the final 100m, finishing fifth to CANDELIGHT DINNER over 1000m on 4 February. HEY BROS has been at Conghua since and while gate 10 makes his task more difficult, HEY BROS is a place chance for Lyle Hewitson.
TOURBILLON GOLFER is also racing consistently and will be in the leading group and is a place chance for Alexis Badel.
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