Hong Kong's champion Romantic Warrior is gearing up for an exciting new chapter that will see him compete in both the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup.
The six-year-old has already made a name for himself with international victories, including the Cox Plate in Australia and the Yasuda Kinen in Japan. His June win in Japan marked his eighth Group One victory and brought his total to 15 wins from 20 starts, amassing over £15 million in prize money.
Romantic Warrior will first return to action on home turf for the Jockey Club Cup on November 17, before aiming for a repeat of his 2022 Sha Tin double in the Hong Kong Cup on December 8. With two more Group One victories, he could match the Hong Kong record of 10 held by the recently retired Golden Sixty.
Trainer Danny Shum commented, "He’ll come back in the Jockey Club Cup. I don’t anticipate a very strong field there. However, the Hong Kong Cup will be more challenging, with strong competition from overseas, including horses from Japan and Aidan O’Brien’s runners. It’s hard to predict, but Romantic Warrior will be a key contender."
Looking ahead to the international races, Shum added, "The owner and I are thrilled about the opportunities. He’s been invited to run in the Saudi Cup, which will be a significant test as it will be his first time racing on dirt. It’s a unique opportunity, and despite the long break he’ll need afterwards, we’re committed to racing in the Saudi Cup and then the Dubai World Cup."
Shum is also exploring options with the Japan Racing Association (JRA) to potentially send Romantic Warrior directly from Dubai to Japan. "It’s an ambitious plan with a long journey ahead—around five to six months—but it’s very exciting."