Hong Kong racing witnessed a historic night at Sha Tin on Wednesday as trainer Danny Shum celebrated his 900th career win, a milestone achieved ahead of Romantic Warrior’s anticipated charge for HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup glory on Sunday (25 January).
Shum, 65, the guiding force behind the world-record prizemoney earner Romantic Warrior, paired with champion jockey Zac Purton to land victories aboard Forever Folks in the Class 4 Po Shek Wu Handicap (1800m) and Blazing Wind in the Class 3 Shui Chuen O Handicap (1200m). The achievement places Shum seventh on Hong Kong’s all-time trainers’ list, trailing only legends such as John Moore (1,735 wins), John Size (1,632), and Tony Cruz (1,583).
“I always say, the first 10 years of my training, I was not that good, but the last 10 years I’m doing much better because I’m more concentrated on my job,” Shum reflected. “You can see the last 10 years, my results tell you a lot and I’ve had a lot of good horses to help, too.”
The night’s meeting also saw New Forest continue his upward trajectory in the Class 2 Tin Chak Handicap (1650m), leading all the way under Andrea Atzeni to defeat Gorgeous Win by a length and a half, with Talents Ambition a further neck back in third. The Justify gelding’s victory marked his third win of the season and fourth over course and distance, propelling trainer Mark Newnham to a 33rd seasonal triumph and an early lead in the 2025/26 trainers’ championship.
“In a small field, he got control of the pace and he’s always hard to beat when he does that,” Newnham said. “It was a very easy win for him, which made it harder for Talents Ambition, but it helped New Forest.”
Atzeni, riding a treble for the evening, described New Forest as “a very uncomplicated horse, who likes to go forward. In the small field, with the light weight, it was a nice ride to pick up.” He also combined with 13-time champion trainer John Size to guide Noble Deluxe and Sight Dreamer to victories in the Class 5 Kam Shan Handicap (1200m) and Class 4 Diamond Hill Handicap (1650m) respectively.
Elsewhere, Brett Crawford celebrated a double with Celestial Harmony (Class 5 Silvermine Handicap) and Speedy Smartie (Class 4 Marble Handicap), while Me Tsui and Dylan Browne McMonagle secured wins with Vulcanus and Dragon Air Force.
Hong Kong racing now turns its focus to Sunday (25 January), with the HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), opening the Hong Kong Speed Series, and the HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m), first leg of the Triple Crown. All eyes will be on Romantic Warrior as he chases another record-breaking triumph under Shum’s guidance.
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