Romantic Warrior chases Hong Kong Triple Crown history

Romantic Warrior will attempt to become only the third horse to complete Hong Kong’s Triple Crown when he contests Sunday’s HK$13 million Group 1 Champions & Chater Cup over 2400 metres at Sha Tin.

The Danny Shum-trained superstar earned his shot at the rare feat after victories in the Group 1 Stewards’ Cup and Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup earlier this season, joining River Verdon and Voyage Bubble as the only horses to have swept the first two legs.

Romantic Warrior tuned up for the staying feature with a turf gallop at Sha Tin on Tuesday alongside stablemate Romantic Thor, covering 1200 metres in 1:17.3 under his own steam after being allowed to stride freely in the closing stages.

“It’ll be a challenge,” Shum said. “Romantic Warrior has only raced over 2400 metres once before when he ran second, but that time he was quite keen, and he’s getting older now so he’s easier to control and hopefully he can handle the distance.”

The seven-year-old has not been beaten since undergoing surgery on his left fore fetlock 12 months ago and heads into Sunday’s race unbeaten in five starts this season, including victories in the Hong Kong Cup and QEII Cup.

Romantic Warrior has amassed a world-record HK$271.46 million in prizemoney during a career spanning 23 wins from 30 starts, with elite-level successes in Hong Kong, Australia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates.