Tom Peacock

At Sha Tin, Romantic Warrior dazzled as history stretched further; on Sunday, 14 Dec, he became the first to stitch together four successive wins in the HK$40m G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup run over roughly two kilometres, for example echoing tales told on grandstand steps.

The winning margin, a length and three‑quarters, was engineered by James McDonald, while supporters along the rail in pale blue cheered wildly, for example waving scarves. Expectations among them had been high.

As a Hong Kong International Sale graduate, the thoroughbred Romantic Warrior has pushed his elite tally to eleven Group 1 victories spread across four jurisdictions. With his eighth birthday approaching fast, any hint of slowing down has not surfaced.

A crisp getaway by McDonald was followed by taking a tracking role behind a measured tempo largely set by Galen, as Dylan Browne McMonagle sought the first move when seven runners swung for home. Then pressure grew.

Even with a roar swelling from the crowd, Romantic Warrior floated comfortably. With about four hundred metres to travel he moved to the front and, despite Bellagio Opera’s belated bid, the outcome seemed sealed, while Quisisana nabbed third late.

Before a surge of well‑wishers engulfed him, winning trainer Danny Shum briefly scribbled the official order in his racebook.

“My pride in Romantic Warrior and our stable is immense; the team works incredibly hard,” Shum remarked. “What a release this is—he brings me constant happiness, and not only me but the stable staff, the owners, my family, and people all over Hong Kong, even many who don’t usually follow racing, they all love Romantic Warrior.”

“Frankly, the pressure was significant. He underwent surgery at the end of May when a screw was inserted into his left foreleg, yet he is such a calm, sweet, admirable horse; he feels like family to me, and my son jokes I might love Romantic Warrior more than him!”

“He’s straightforward to condition; heavy work isn’t required, and indicators like his body weight and his appetite tell us exactly how fit he is.”

“In the moment after the wire I was nearly without words,” McDonald said. “He’s extraordinarily special—an absolute freak—and I can hardly describe it … I love him, I truly do.”

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Although inflation and rich prize funds worldwide suggest that his status as the highest‑earning racehorse may one day be surpassed, the achievement stamped in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup should endure. In equine lore, that kind of record tends to last.

Already unique as the only runner to have taken this race three times since its 1988 launch—before adding a fourth on this occasion—he now looks likely to be aimed at another clash with Forever Young, whom he pushed to the line in the celebrated G1 Saudi Cup (1,800 metres, dirt) earlier this year.

Even so, Shum intends to await the green light from owner Peter Lau before fixing any program.

“I keep saying this: we know he’ll turn eight very soon, but he doesn’t know he’s about to be eight,” he said.

“It’s astounding. He has campaigned in Australia, Japan and Dubai; he ran second in Saudi Arabia’s richest event and also finished runner‑up in the Dubai Turf, then returned here and posted two wins.”

“The owner, Peter, always makes the call and we all trust his judgment. If he tells me, ‘Danny, go to Saudi Arabia,’ I will go; if he says, ‘Danny, remain in Hong Kong,’ I will stay—our team works as one, and my trust in Peter is complete.”