David Eustace is pinning his hopes on the ever-improving Colourful King to help turn the tide when Hong Kong racing heads to Happy Valley’s weekend fixture this Sunday (2 November). The young Australian trainer, who burst onto the scene with a stellar debut campaign last season, has found wins hard to come by in recent weeks — a frustrating run he’s determined to end.
After registering just a single success from the first 15 meetings of the 2025/26 term, Eustace admits it’s been a testing period. “We’ve had a few go very close, but racing’s about fine margins,” he said. “Hopefully, this weekend gives us that bit of luck we’ve been missing.”
His best chance comes in the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Guangzhou Handicap (1200m), where Colourful King (125lb) lines up off a 10-day turnaround. The Blue Point gelding finished runner-up in his latest outing and now returns to the same venue in search of redemption.
“I’d have loved a bit more time (between runs), but the programme gave us few options,” Eustace explained. “He’s pulled up well, and we wouldn’t be sending him out again if he hadn’t.”
Colourful King’s record is one of consistency and promise — two wins from seven Hong Kong starts, complemented by another pair of victories from his Australian days when known as Blue Renegade. While all four career triumphs have come over 1000 metres, Sunday’s race presents an intriguing test over the extended 1200-metre trip.
“He’s not proven at 1200 yet,” Eustace admitted, “but I think the step up might work for us this time. With a few pacey types in there, the race should be truly run, and that will play to his strengths.”
Among his chief rivals is Youthful Spirits (124lb) from Mark Newnham’s yard — a familiar foe. The pair have developed a compelling on-track rivalry, sharing the quinella in all three of their previous clashes. Colourful King holds the upper hand 2–1, though Newnham’s runner edged him out narrowly at Happy Valley last week.
“He ran super from off the pace, and the winner deserved credit with that light weight,” said Eustace. “But my horse is in good order and ready to give another big effort.”
Romantic Warrior Tunes Up Smoothly for Hong Kong Cup Defence
While Eustace eyes his next breakthrough, all eyes were on Romantic Warrior at Sha Tin on Friday morning (31 October), where the reigning champion took another confident step toward his return.
The Danny Shum-trained superstar — already a 10-time Group 1 winner — was partnered by regular trial rider Hugh Bowman and cruised to victory in a 1200-metre dirt trial.
“He feels fantastic — in great spirits and moving beautifully,” Bowman said. “I let him stride without pressure, and he responded like a horse who’s loving his work. He’s come back every bit as well, if not better, than last year.”
Romantic Warrior is on track for a record fourth win in the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on 14 December, with his first-up assignment likely to be the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) on 23 November.
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