In a stunning display of talent, Romantic Warrior has made a remarkable start to his quest for the prestigious Triple Crown by winning the HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup, which took place over a mile at Sha Tin on Sunday. This victory not only marks a significant milestone in his racing career but also sets the stage for what could be a historic season.
As the race approached the final stretch, it became increasingly clear that Romantic Warrior was on the path to victory. With jockey James McDonald sitting calmly in the saddle and approaching the frontrunner Lucky Sweynesse, the defending champion Voyage Bubble struggled to keep pace on the outside, while My Wish found himself trapped further back in the pack.
After closely watching his competitor for about 100 meters, McDonald skillfully signaled Romantic Warrior to surge ahead, quickly pulling away from the field. While Lucky Sweynesse valiantly held on to secure second place in his first attempt at the mile distance, Romantic Warrior crossed the finish line a commanding one-and-three-quarter lengths clear of the competition. Voyage Bubble finished in third place, with My Wish tying for fourth alongside Sunlight Power after facing challenges during the race.
McDonald, who has often praised Romantic Warrior as "the horse of a lifetime," expressed his excitement following this latest triumph. "His demeanor, his courage, his will to win—it's all exceptional," he remarked. "Every time he races, it's an honor to ride such an extraordinary horse.
"He got off to a great start, and I thought everything would go smoothly, but I was surprised when others picked up their pace. Fortunately, he maintained a nice rhythm throughout. Being positioned in gate seven allowed us to take our time and wait for the right moment, especially knowing that Voyage Bubble was running wide, making sure I didn’t give him any assistance.
“While he’s faced setbacks before, he consistently proves to be a true warrior," McDonald concluded.
Currently ranked seventh in the 2025 LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, Romantic Warrior boasts an impressive record of 21 wins out of 28 starts. His recent victory in the Stewards’ Cup has boosted his total earnings to an astounding HK$247.38 million. Earlier this season, he made history by winning the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) for an unprecedented fourth time.
After spending much of the previous season competing internationally, the connections of Romantic Warrior have redirected their focus toward achieving greatness in local competitions for the 2025/26 season. Their ambition is to join the ranks of legendary horses like Voyage Bubble and River Verdon by securing the coveted Triple Crown.
The next challenge on this journey is the HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m), scheduled for March 1. The series will conclude with the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) on May 24.
"I’m incredibly proud of Romantic Warrior," trainer Danny Shum shared enthusiastically. "He can handle various distances—1600 meters, 2000 meters, even 2400 meters without issue. It's no secret that 2000 meters is his optimum range, so I’ll focus on keeping him happy and healthy; it’s a straightforward task for me."
McDonald, who frequently travels from Australia to ride Romantic Warrior, agreed that this victory was an ideal way to kick off their Triple Crown campaign. "It’s a long road ahead, but yeah, we’ve ticked the first box off the list," he stated.
On a busy race card, David Hayes also had a successful day, sharing the spotlight with Francis Lui as he celebrated achieving 30 wins this season. Among his highlights was Ka Ying Rising, who dominated the HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) under the guidance of Zac Purton. Hayes teamed up with Hugh Bowman for another win with Turin Champions in the Class 4 Sound Print Handicap (1400m), and capped the day with Positive Smile claiming victory in the Class 4 Waikuku Handicap (1400m) under Keith Yeung’s stewardship.
McDonald also made an impression by riding the debuting Gold Patch in the Class 4 Peniaphobia Handicap (1000m), where the three-year-old gelding managed to clinch victory despite late challenges from Zac Purton’s Sparkling Fellow. Winning Wing, another standout horse trained by Lui, showcased his abilities with a strong finish to win the Class 2 Ambitious Dragon Handicap (2000m), marking his fourth triumph in 15 races—a testament to his resilience.
Lui sealed his own treble when Invincible Shield edged out competitors in the Class 2 Able Friend Handicap (1200m) with Vincent Ho in the saddle.
Purton finished the day as the leading jockey with three victories, starting with a win on Lucky Eight in the Class 4 Beat The Clock Handicap (1200m) before his Centenary Sprint Cup success and a final win aboard Happy Index in the Class 3 Aerovelocity Handicap (1200m).
Brett Crawford celebrated his 13th victory of the season, continuing his successful partnership with Karis Teetan as Island Buddy scored a hard-fought win in the Class 4 Mr Vitality Handicap (1200m). Casper Fownes wrapped up the day with a win in the Class 3 Beauty Generation Handicap (1600m) as Flying Luck claimed his third victory in Hong Kong with Ellis Wong riding.
Racing enthusiasts will be pleased to know that the excitement continues with the next event at Happy Valley set for Wednesday, January 28.
