The G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup commands attention at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, and the spotlight once again falls on the remarkable Romantic Warrior, whose appetite for competition shows no sign of fading as he enters his eighth year.
James McDonald, widely regarded as the world’s leading rider, reports that the globetrotting champion feels as vibrant as ever ahead of the HK$13 million contest over 2000 metres. There is a quiet confidence about the camp, the kind that only accompanies horses who have consistently delivered on the grandest stages.
“Danny’s been very happy with him,” McDonald said, referring to trainer Danny Shum. “Same with all the guys that look after him. They’ve done a marvellous job this preparation with him.”
G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup and a Triple Crown Dream
Sunday’s G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup represents the second leg of Hong Kong’s Triple Crown, and Romantic Warrior arrives having already captured January’s Stewards’ Cup. Victory would propel him towards a rare sweep of the series — an achievement that has eluded even the most decorated champions.
The principal threat is last season’s Triple Crown hero, Voyage Bubble, ensuring the contest carries both history and rivalry in equal measure. Only River Verdon, back in 1993/94, has previously completed the treble, underscoring the magnitude of what lies before them.
Romantic Warrior’s record demands respect. Racing’s all-time leading prize money earner, with HK$247.38 million amassed, the 12-time Group 1 winner has been unbeaten since May 2023. At Sha Tin over 2000 metres, his figures are near flawless: 12 wins and a second from 13 attempts.
“He’s just got a phenomenal record overall,” McDonald said. “He just knows his job so well. He’s such a competitor and you know what you’re going to get from him — a solid performance every time he steps out.”
Connections have opted for a domestic campaign this season rather than another overseas mission, which might have led to a rematch with Japan’s dirt star Forever Young, who narrowly defeated him in last year’s Saudi Cup in Riyadh. For now, the focus is firmly on home soil and further cementing an already glittering legacy.
Elsewhere on the 11-race programme, trainer Mark Newnham holds a strong hand in the Hong Kong Classic Cup, the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
Among his trio is the progressive Lucky Sam Gor, whose season has gathered steady momentum with four wins from eight starts. He retains an unblemished partnership with jockey Jerry Chau, the 25-year-old having partnered him to three consecutive victories.
“Jerry’s had three rides on him for three wins. So he understands him well,” Newnham noted.
The step to 1800 metres presents a fresh examination, but Newnham believes his charge has earned the opportunity.
“He has come from the low-40s to contesting a Classic Cup. And you never quite know where his ceiling’s going to be until we reach it,” he said. “Each run, he’s relaxed well and hit the line strongly. Once he learned to settle, he’s shown his true form.”
Sunday’s meeting begins at 12.30pm with the Class 4 Citi Wealth Handicap. The G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup is scheduled for 3.35pm, while the Hong Kong Classic Cup follows at 4.45pm, promising an afternoon rich in quality and consequence at Sha Tin.
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