Can 'the perfect racehorse' make Hong Kong history on Sunday?

Romantic Warrior has been handed a plum draw in stall one as he attempts to earn a slice of history by landing a third successive Longines Hong Kong Cup on Sunday at his beloved Sha Tin, an achievement which rider James McDonald believes would be entirely appropriate for such a prolific horse.

The six-year-old has eight top-level successes and edged out the Aidan O'Brien-trained Luxembourg in the Cup 12 months ago to round off an incredible year that also featured Cox Plate glory in Australia.

He has won all four starts in 2024, including the Hong Kong Gold Cup and a third successive win in the QEII Cup in April. Another Grade 1 win followed in June when he landed the Yasuda Kinen on his first visit to Tokyo racecourse and he warmed up for Sunday's assignment in pleasing fashion with a straightforward success in the Jockey Club Cup over course and distance last month.

Trainer Danny Shum's superstar has been partnered in ten of his last 13 starts by New Zealand hall of fame rider McDonald, who said: "He's in superb form and hopefully is going to be hard to beat.

"He's probably peaking better than he did last year for the same race, so we're looking forward to it. He's the most push-button horse you'd have anything to do with. The closest to him was probably Anamoe, who was a phenomenal horse and a nine-time Group 1 winner.

"He's just the perfect racehorse. He has gate speed, sustained speed, it doesn't matter if it's wet or dry or whether it's a fast or slow tempo. He's just unflappable over the mile and a quarter. I really enjoy riding him, he's very self-explanatory."

Aidan O'Brien's string, including Hong Kong Cup contenders Wingspan and Content, exercise at Sha Tin this weekCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The Acclamation gelding is an 8-15 chance to take the race for an unprecedented third time after he matched California Memory (2011 and 2012) by becoming a two-time winner last year. 

His biggest danger could come from stall five with Liberty Island, trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida. The Japanese filly ran a huge race to finish third behind Rebel's Romance in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March and is expected to come on plenty for her reappearance in the Tenno Sho Autumn at Tokyo last month, when she was 13th of 15.

Aidan O'Brien has yet to win the race but has saddled Magic Wand (second in 2019), Magical (third in 2020) and Luxembourg (second in 2023) to be placed and he saddles a strong challenge in Wingspan and Content, who are drawn in three and nine respectively.

Looking at the opposition, McDonald said: "It’s no easy task. The Japanese are coming here in strong force, so we need the right run, but he’s the right horse to do it on. Hopefully he can make it three Hong Kong Cups as it would be fitting if he could go down as the best Hong Kong horse to grace the Sha Tin race. That's the main goal and he's well on his way. He's a phenomenal horse."

Longines Hong Kong Cup (8.40am Sha Tin, Sunday)
William Hill: 1-2 Romantic Warrior, 6 Liberty Island, 12 Tastiera, Content, 14 Wingspan, 16 Spirit Dancer, 33 bar

Read these next:

Globetrotting Spirit Dancer 'the best he's ever been' as he bids to provide Sir Alex Ferguson with more big-race glory in the Hong Kong Cup 

'It all unfolded perfectly' - Mickael Barzalona cruises home in Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley 

Join Racing Post Members' Club for the very best in racing journalism - including Patrick Mullins' unmissable trip to see Gordon Elliott 

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.