Romantic Warrior has become the greatest prize money earner in global racing history, capturing his third Hong Kong Cup in emphatic fashion at Sha Tin.

James McDonald has now won seven Group 1 races on Romantic Warrior. (Photo: (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

On a marquee day for James McDonald, who also won the Hong Kong Mile abroad Voyage Bubble, the star jockey pushed Romantic Warrior into the perfect position tracking the speed and the Danny Shum-trained superstar did the rest.

He swept up to the leaders on straightening, and while Japanese raider Tastiera gave some resistance, Romantic Warrior took control inside the furlong.

Liberty Island, the Japanese-bred daughter of Australian Group 1 winner Yankee Rose, worked home in determined fashion down the outside to claim second but McDonald had enough up his sleeve, one and a half lengths to be exact, to celebrate before reaching the line. Tastiera held on for third.

The victory takes Romantic Warrior’s overall prizemoney to over HK$175 million eclipsing fellow Hong Kong hero Golden Sixty, who earned HK$167 million and who had previously surpassed Winx as the world’s greatest prize money earner.

He has 17 wins from 21 starts, including international Group 1 wins in the Cox Plate and the Yasuda Kinen. Further international challenges await in 2025.

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The StraightMatt Stewart

McDonald was in awe of the Irish-bred son of Acclamation in the aftermath of another success.

“He's just been a remarkable effort by Danny and his team, and the Japanese put it to him, but with no luck,” McDonald said.

“Forget the rest, he's the best.

“I'm the lucky one, horse of a lifetime. This was our moment to create history, and that dead set felt like I was lining up for the winning kick for the All Blacks, it was that pinch me moment.”

Meanwhile, sprint sensation Ka Ying Rising gave Zac Purton his 12th Hong Kong International win and took his own career record to nine wins from 11 starts with his debut Group 1 win in the Hong Kong Sprint.

It wasn’t the dominant performance which saw the David Hayes-trained star break the Sha Tin 1200-metre track record at both of his past two starts, but having sat outside the leader, he surged clear and held off the closing pair of Helios Express and Satono Reve to win.

Ka Ying Rising’s final time was 1:08.15, 0.72s slower than his most recent win. However, it was the fastest win in the race in five years and the second fastest since 2006. 

Purton said after the race that things had not gone to plan.

“It wasn't smooth. Something landed at the gate just before we went and it took his mind off it and he turned his head. So I was a little bit slow to step and then Victor The Winner, just bore down my neck the whole way and he never quite relaxed as well as he has,” he said.

“The win was better than what it looks. He jumped something in the straight as well and it took his mind off it.”

Purton, who has ridden the Kiwi-bred son of Shamexpress in all but one of his starts, described Ka Ying Rising as a special horse.

“He wasn't at his best today. He's better than this but he's still got the job done.”

It was Hayes’ first Group 1 victory since his return to Hong Kong with a horse who he has repeatedly described as the best he has trained this early in a horse’s career.

“I’m relieved. I’m glad it’s over. But we’ve got his first group 1. The key was winning and he’s done that,” Hayes said.

Bred by Fraser Auret, Ka Ying Rising is out of Per Incanto mare Missy Moo, while he is the second Group 1 winner for his Windsor Park Stud based sire.

McDonald and Ricky Yiu had combined with Australian-bred Voyage Bubble to win the Hong Kong Mile.

Second in the race behind the now retired Golden Sixty last year, Voyage Bubble was able to sit up outside of Beauty Eternal in the lead. McDonald pushed clear in the straight and while the Japanese raider Soul Rush closed within a length on the line, the race favourite never looked threatened. Beauty Joy finished third.

It is the second Group 1 win for the son of Deep Field, who was bred by Torryburn Stud.

Earlier, Marco Botti’s Giovellotto was a spectacular winner of the Hong Kong Vase after almost falling at the top of the straight.

Jockey Oisin Murphy had tracked into the race perfectly, when he found himself in a jam between two rivals and losing three to four lengths at a critical stage.

But in a stunning turnaround, the son of Mastercraftsman picked up his feet, and surged past his rivals to defeat Dubai Honour by 2.5 lengths, with Japanese challenger and favourite Stellenbosch third.

It was a first Group 1 win for the five-year-old, who was placed last start in the Irish St Leger and who had previous on the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and the Yorkshire Cup at Group 2 level.  

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