Peter Lau’s horse, Romantic Warrior, won the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin, becoming only the second horse to win the Cup twice, following a victory six weeks prior at the G1 Cox Plate in Melbourne.
‣ Peter Lau’s ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE) won the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin, holding off a late rally from Luxembourg (Ire) and Hishi Iguazu (Jpn). This makes Romantic Warrior only the second repeat winner of the Cup.
‣ Romantic Warrior was sold to Lau for HK$4.8 million at the Hong Kong International Sale in 2021, after being purchased by Mick Kinane and the Hong Kong Jockey Club from the draft of Corduff Stud at the 2019 Tattersalls October Sale for 300,000gns.
‣ James McDonald, who flew back from Perth overnight, placed Romantic Warrior perfectly in fourth and helped him travel comfortably through the opening 1300 metres.
CHAMPION! Romantic Warrior grabs his fifth Group 1 in a thriller by landing consecutive Hong Kong Cups. @mcacajamez @LONGINES | #HKIR | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/3S3vdy4OPM
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 10, 2023
Six weeks ago, Peter Lau’s ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE) (g, 5, Acclamation GB–Folk Melody Ire, by Street Cry Ire) had a nose-to-nose victory over Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars Aus) at the G1 Cox Plate in Melbourne. Now, he was the 13-10 favourite to win again at Sunday’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin.
The competition was fierce, with a stubborn late rally from Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot GB) and Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry Jpn). But Romantic Warrior prevailed, winning by a head. James McDonald, who had flown back from Perth overnight, perfectly placed him in fourth.
McDonald had just been beaten aboard the Annabel Neasham-trained Zaaki (GB) in Saturday’s G1 Northerly S. Romantic Warrior was comfortable through the opening 1300 metres. However, when Ryan Moore set Luxembourg alight on the turn, McDonald’s hand was forced.
Romantic Warrior was quicker to the spot than the Ballydoyle raider. He went for home, pinched a bit of a break, and looked set for victory. But it wasn’t easy. He had to call on every ounce of his class to hold on in the dying strides.
With this win, he becomes only the second repeat winner of the Cup. The first was California Memory in 2011 and 2012. Romantic Warrior was a 300,000gns purchase by Mick Kinane and the Hong Kong Jockey Club from the draft of Corduff Stud at the 2019 Tattersalls October Sale. In 2021, he was sold to Lau for HK$4.8 million at the Hong Kong International Sale.
The Hong Kong Cup was a thrilling race. The final results were: ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE), 126, g, 5, by Acclamation (GB) in first place. Luxembourg (Ire), 126, c, 4, Camelot (GB)–Attire (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire) in second. And Hishi Iguazu (Jpn), 126, h, 7, Heart’s Cry (Jpn)–La Liz (Arg), by Bernstein in third.
The margins were tight: SHD, NO, HF. The odds were 13-10, 71-10, 13-1. Other runners included Straight Arron (Aus), Prognosis (Jpn), Sword Point (Aus), Nimble Nimbus (NZ), Rousham Park (Jpn), Money Catcher (NZ), Horizon Dore (Fr), and Champion Dragon (Ire).
Romantic Warrior is now a champion, grabbing his fifth Group 1 in a thrilling Hong Kong Cup. It was a race to remember.
