Romantic Warrior announced his Triple Crown intentions in emphatic fashion, sweeping aside a high-class field to land his first victory in the Stewards’ Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday, 25 January. The HK$13 million Group 1 mile contest provided a stage befitting Hong Kong’s modern great, and the response from Danny Shum’s champion was decisive, controlled, and utterly authoritative.
Settled comfortably just off the pace under James McDonald, Romantic Warrior travelled with trademark poise as Lucky Sweynesse ensured a genuine tempo in front. By the time the field straightened, the outcome of the Stewards’ Cup was already tilting firmly in one direction. McDonald eased his mount alongside the leader passing the 400-metre mark, while Voyage Bubble was forced to race three wide and others searched in vain for running room.
Once McDonald asked for an effort, the response was immediate. Romantic Warrior surged clear after briefly eyeballing Lucky Sweynesse, lengthening with every stride to assert his superiority. The margin at the line was one and three-quarter lengths, a figure that barely captured the ease of the performance.
Lucky Sweynesse, tackling the mile for the first time, stayed on resolutely to claim second, while last year’s winner Voyage Bubble battled on for third. My Wish, repeatedly checked at a crucial stage, finished in a dead heat for fourth with Sunlight Power after an uncomfortable passage through the field.
For McDonald, the Stewards’ Cup triumph carried a personal note of satisfaction, having narrowly missed in the race previously aboard the same partner.
“His demeanour, his courage, his will to win – it’s all there,” McDonald said. “Every time he goes to the track, it’s a privilege. He began well, travelled smoothly, and even when the pace changed, he stayed in a beautiful rhythm.”
Drawn seven of nine, McDonald was able to remain patient, aware of rivals caught wide around him. “I knew I didn’t want to give Voyage Bubble a free run, and once we balanced up, he did the rest,” he added.
The victory marked a 12th Group 1 success for Romantic Warrior and further enhanced a record that now reads 21 wins from 28 starts. Ranked seventh in the 2025 LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, the eight-year-old has amassed an extraordinary HK$247.38 million in prize money, extending a benchmark already unmatched in Hong Kong racing. Earlier in the season, he captured an unprecedented fourth Hong Kong Cup over 2000 metres, underlining his rare versatility.
From Mile to Marathon: The Stewards’ Cup and Beyond
The Stewards’ Cup represents the opening leg of Hong Kong’s demanding Triple Crown, and connections have made no secret of their ambition after an overseas-focused campaign in 2024/25. With the first box now ticked, Romantic Warrior will step back up to his preferred 2000 metres for the Hong Kong Gold Cup on 1 March, before the Champions & Chater Cup over 2400 metres on 24 May completes the series.
Only Voyage Bubble and River Verdon have managed to sweep all three races, a statistic that highlights the scale of the challenge ahead.
Trainer Danny Shum, however, remains quietly confident. “He can handle 1600, 2000, even 2400 metres,” Shum said. “Two thousand is his best trip, so I’m very comfortable. My job is simple – keep him healthy and happy.”
McDonald echoed the sentiment, while acknowledging the long road still to come. “It’s a big ask, but you couldn’t ask for a better start.”
Elsewhere on the Sha Tin card, David Hayes and Francis Lui shared training honours, each finishing with three winners. Hayes enjoyed Group 1 success earlier as Ka Ying Rising dominated the Centenary Sprint Cup under Zac Purton, and added two further victories through Turin Champions and Positive Smile in their respective handicaps.
Lui, meanwhile, celebrated a treble that included an impressive debut from Gold Patch, who edged out Sparkling Fellow in the opening race. Winning Wing continued his admirable consistency with a determined success over 2000 metres, while Invincible Shield narrowly prevailed in the Able Friend Handicap.
Purton led the jockeys with three wins on the day, while Brett Crawford and Casper Fownes also featured among the winners as the meeting showcased depth across all grades.
Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday, 28 January.
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