'Forget the rest, he is the best' - Romantic Warrior becomes highest-earning racehorse after historic third Hong Kong Cup win

History was created in the Longines Hong Kong Cup when Romantic Warrior put in an electric performance to win for the third successive year and justify odds of 1-10, bringing his Group 1 tally to nine and prize-money to just short of £18 million to eclipse Golden Sixty as the highest-earning racehorse of all time.

The Danny Shum-trained six-year-old, one of racing's biggest global superstars, has been on a remarkable run since he was last beaten at Flemington in October 2023, and this was one of his most scintillating displays.

James McDonald took full advantage of his plum draw in one and always had his mount in a handy position, turning for home in third position while stalking the long-time leader Wingspan and eventual third Tastiera. 

Once Tastiera was overhauled with a furlong to go he produced a stunning change of pace to settle the race in a matter of strides, seemingly propelled by his adoring fans chanting "warrior" in the stands as he burst clear to win by a length and a half.

The Mitsumasa Nakauchida-trained Liberty Island finished with a flourish but never threatened to lay a glove on the dominant winner and McDonald even had the time to stand up in his irons for the last 30 yards to salute the crowd and take a long, pitiful look at his toiling rivals.

Japan was also responsible for the third as Tastiera stuck to his task to finish a further length and a quarter behind Liberty Island, while The Foxes ran a huge race to finish fourth for Andrew Balding at odds of 113-1.

"That was unbelievable, I'm so proud of this horse", said McDonald. "He's just been remarkable and it's some effort by Danny [Shum] and his team.

"The Japanese [horses] put it to him but with no luck. He's the best, forget the rest, he's the best. He's been flying and anyone could ride him because he's that easy – but I'm the lucky one. He's the horse of a lifetime. This was our moment to create history and it felt like I was lining up for the winning kick for the All Blacks. It was a pinch-me moment."

Romantic Warrior crosses the line after a dominant Hong Kong Cup winCredit: Edward Whitaker

It rounded off a hugely successful day for domestic trainers with Hong Kong claiming three of the four international races. Romantic Warrior has been a phenomenal advertisement for the quality of the jurisdiction's racing, particularly on the international stage when winning the Cox Plate in Australia last year and the Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo in June. 

He is set for another monumental international assignment in February as Shum eyes a fascinating experiment on the dirt in the Saudi Cup.

Shum said: “He was confident and full of energy. I stayed in the stables the whole time, I didn’t want to go out to talk too much. I work hard, I love my team and my team has done a great job.

“He’s the best, but I have to take another bigger challenge to go to Dubai and Saudi Arabia, just because I haven’t been to Dubai for 25 years. At that time, I was assistant trainer for Mr Ivan Allan, I had a new experience. I will make sure the team that go there are in the best form.

 "The owner Mr Peter Lau said it’s a once-in-a-life chance to take the challenge in Saudi Arabia for the top prize-money in the world. We are experimenting with dirt but I’ve tried him in an all-weather trial with a pacifier and he was quite good.”

Rising star

Ka Ying Rising made a winning start to life in Group 1s when landing the Longines Hong Kong Sprint, although he didn't seem at the peak of his powers given the lofty expectations he set himself when smashing a long-standing course record over 6f last month.

Trained by David Hayes, the four-year-old went into the race having won his last seven starts and had set pulses racing when bolting up over course and distance last time in the Hong Kong Sprint, bettering Sacred Kingdom's track record which had been in place since 2007.

Despite having never run in a Group 1 before and with a tricky draw to overcome in 11, he was sent off the 1-10 favourite. Rider Zac Purton elected to rush his mount up into a prominent position after a tardy start, eventually settling in third, and he was travelling comfortably in the straight before hitting the front with 300 metres to go and maintaining an advantage of half a length at the line ahead of Helios Express.

“Something lunged at the gate just before he went and it took his mind off it and he turned his head, so he was a little bit slow to step,” said Pirton. “Then Victor The Winner just bored my neck the whole way and he never quite relaxed the way he has. He was working the whole way and never had time to relax.”

Ka Ying Rising (Zac Purton) wins the Hong Kong SprintCredit: Edward Whitaker

“He wasn’t at his best today and is better than this and still got the job done."

The winning trainer said: "The start wasn’t perfect and he got pressure when he normally gets a bit of cover, so I think it was a better win than it looked.

 “You’re never confident going into international Group 1s because there are so many unknowns, but I was as confident as you could be.

"We’ll see how he comes out of this, but the next race could be the Group 1 sprint in late January, which is six weeks between the runs. After that, we’ll decide whether we go to the [Hong Kong Classic] mile or not."

Starlust failed to emulate his Breeders' Cup heroics for Ralph Beckett, trailing in 13th of 14.

Bubble bursts clear

The Ricky Yiu-trained Voyage Bubble landed the Longines Hong Kong mile to secure a Grade 1 double for James McDonald after he went one better than 12 months ago when second to Golden Sixty.

The six-year-old was securing his second Group 1 after taking the Stewards' Cup over course and distance in January when defeating Soul Rush by a length and a quarter at odds of 8-5.

Voyage Bubble: won the Hong Kong MileCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He’s a great horse in his own right," said McDonald. "He felt excellent going to the gates today, he was really on the job. Credit to Ricky and his team, they’ve prepped him up beautifully. He just gives his all. He has a very big heart and he’s very uncomplicated.”

The Sha Tin crowd of 69,916 was the biggest for the meeting since 2018,  while turnover reached HK$1,716.3 million (approximately £173m), including a commingling record of HK$473.8 million (approximately £47.8m), an increase of ten percent on last year’s overseas turnover.

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