Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior wins G1 Cox Plate
Champion James McDonald's faith in Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior has been vindicated with the jockey landing a second Cox Plate victory.
After guiding Anamoe to success in last year's Group 1 weight-for-age championship, McDonald had to call on all his strength to get Romantic Warrior home in the 2040m contest at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
McDonald never lost faith in Romantic Warrior despite the Danny Shum-trained gelding being beaten at his Australian debut in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 7.
Starting the $3.60 Australian bookmakers favourite, Romantic Warrior scored by a nose from Mr Brightside ($9) with Alligator Blood ($6) a short-neck away third.
Romantic Warrior returned a win dividend of $2.80 on the World Pool.
McDonald made trips to Hong Kong to partner Romantic Warrior to win the lead up to the Hong Kong Cup as well as the Hong Kong Cup at the international meeting last year and was also aboard gelding to win the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in April.
"This horse is pretty special to me," McDonald said.
"I mentioned if he came to a Cox Plate, he'd be a suitable horse. I meant what I said and credit to (owner) Peter (Lau Pak Fai) and Danny.
"It takes a hell of a lot of balls to come out of Hong Kong with all the prizemoney there. It is one of the best racing jurisdictions in the world and they come here and showcase their boy.
"I reckon he's got more to come, too.
"He's been bubbling. He showed a significant amount of improvement like I thought he would, and he loves the bloody Valley!"
The first three horses across the line were positioned third, fourth and fifth in the running line behind King Colorado and Zaaki.
McDonald elected to ease three wide racing to the 600m mark with Alligator Blood taking up his spot.
Romantic Warrior wobbled slightly around the turn, as did Zaaki which allowed Mr Brightside to get up on the fence to hit the front 50m out, only to be grabbed on the line.
McDonald said he was comfortable where Romantic Warrior was positioned in the race.
"I knew I was on the right horse, and I kept going, 'he's the best horse, he's the best horse' so I'd ride him like it," McDonald said.
"I took a gamble about the 1000 (metres) or 1200. We elected to come back a spot and to the minute right now I believe that was the winning move."
Shum said it had been a gamble to send Romantic Warrior from Hong Kong to contest Saturday's race.
Romantic Warrior had to adapt to different training conditions in quarantine at Werribee having not raced since late in May in Hong Kong.
The gelding had an interrupted preparation before arrival in Australia missing an important trial and initially not taking to a change in feed.
But Romantic Warrior was able to overcome that adversity to claim Australia's best race.
"I don't know how to tell you how happy I am. I am really happy," Shum said.
"I want to thank Peter the owner for giving permission to come here. James Mcdonald, all the team, all the Hong Kong fans, my wife Christine, my son Aaron.
"I love you! I love you!"
After Romantic Warrior's first-up Australian defeat, Shum said he was a little deflated, but knew the gelding would improve with the outing.
"He was not really ready, but he got better day-by-day," Shum said.
"I was confident he would run a good race, but it is a strong race.
"He overcame all of the challenges and the difficulties. James McDonald gave me a very good report."
Shum said Romantic Warrior would return to Hong Kong as early as possible to prepare for the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on December 10.
More Racing News
Kris Lees captures race named after late father
Kris Lees has celebrated a sentimental win in the race named after his legendary late father, claiming his first Max Lees Classic at Newcastle with Yulong-owned filly Gobi Desert. Max Lees was a successful jockey and trainer, preparing Luskin Star to win the 1977 Golden Slipper and capturing the Group 1 Coolmore...
Another Prophet causes G1 Thousand Guineas boilover
The right form line for The Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) was the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) and that proved true, but not in the way many would’ve predicted, with $31 chance Another Prophet reversing the three-length margin over $3.20 betting sites favourite Aeliana from Flemington. Ridden by Ethan...
Schiller maintains perfect record on Briasa in The Hunter
Hawkes Racing sprinter Briasa has underlined his considerable promise by posting his first stakes victory in the $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle despite enduring a wide run. The four-year-old has now won six of his seven starts, the nature of Saturday’s performance prompting stable representative Steve Thompson to declare Briasa a...
Tough Kimochi outguns rivals in G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
Gary Portelli has not been afraid to cross borders multiple times this preparation with Kimochi and that confidence has been rewarded with a win at the highest level with a galloper who is now an extra valuable mare for Yulong. Kimochi’s victory in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) bookended her...
Gollan wreaking of Swiss Ace Plate success
In an entrée to summer racing features, the summer carnival in Southeast Queensland begins on Saturday at Sunshine Coast and Tony Gollan’s four runners dominate the top of the market in the Swiss Ace Plate. Lining up in the $125,000 feature is the stable’s recent acquisition Cannonball, black-type performer All That...
Clark Steels for The Hunter assignment
Jockey Tim Clark will be carrying the hopes of a town when he links with Kris Lees to partner the only locally trained runner in Newcastle’s showcase race of the year. With the scratching of Uzziah, Rustic Steel is the sole Novacastrian in Saturday’s The Hunter (1300m) as the gelding bids to give Lees...
Almighty Class back in Colonel Reeves Stakes contention
The unbeaten record of Almighty Class and the form he’s had in October has Mitchell Pateman believing he is a strong contender to take out the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday. Pateman reached for the stars last campaign and although he came up empty handed with...
Another shot at Group 1 glory for Wil in Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
Another Wil has saved the two worst runs of his career for his two Group 1 assignments to date, but Jamie Kah is confident a change in tactics can spark a more favourable result in this Saturday’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield. Kah is using lessons from seventh placings in both the...
Summer Cups on radar for Australian Derby placegetter
The form out of the Australian Derby has stood up this spring and trainer John Sargent hopes that continues to be the case for his promising stayer Glad You Think So when he heads to Newcastle’s The Hunter meeting. Glad You Think So finished third behind the ill-fated Riff Rocket and Ceolwulf in the autumn...
864 in 2025 Blue Diamond Stakes contention
While the spring carnival still has some time to run and with summer features still to come in Queensland, attention already creeps in for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes – Victoria’s premier event for two-year-olds – with 864 juveniles nominated among the first acceptances for the end of summer...
