You are listening to an article from Canadian Thoroughbred.com. Romantic Warrior aims for third Hong Kong Vase win By: HKJC | .
Sunday's Longines Hong Kong International races form four Group 1 groups and you can watch and bet on the Super Stakes at HPIBet.com.
The Sha Tin map starts at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 7th Night and Group 1 racing in Hong Kong begins with Race 4. The $5 million The Hong Kong Cup takes place at 3:40 p.m on Sunday morning for Eastern Standard Time folks.
Romantic Warrior (Irish)His connections suggest the local hero is poised to make history as the first three-time winner of the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m). The 6-year-old gelding by Acclamation (GB) – Folk Melody (Ire) by Street Cry (Ire) has 16 wins in 21 races. His second mother FOLK OPERA won the 2008 EP Taylor Stakes (G1) at Woodbine for Godolphin.
Owner Peter Lau noted that Romantic Warrior's barrier draw, announced at the official ceremony in the Sha Tin parade ring, was identical to that of his comfortable warm-up win in the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) last month.
“Of course I’m very cheerful,” said Lau. “It's the same draw as last time, I hope he drives like last time. I look forward to it.”
Jockey James McDonald, who was in top form in his last outing in Hong Kong and became the newly crowned LONGINES World's Best Jockey 2024, has formed an excellent partnership with Danny Shum's gelding.
Not only has the Recent Zealand rider been in the saddle for his two previous victories at this championship event, but he has also helped Romantic Warrior take Australia and Japan by storm.
“He (Romantic Warrior) is in great shape and it will be terribly arduous to beat him. He’s probably doing better than he did last year in the same race, so we’re looking forward to Sunday,” McDonald said.
“He’s the horse I’ve had the most push-button interaction with. The closest you can probably get to it is Anamoe. He was a phenomenal horse and this horse has the right trend.
“He is simply a perfect racehorse. Gate speed, sustained speed, whether moist or droughty, quick pace or leisurely pace, over a mile and a quarter mile he is virtually unflappable.”
Reflecting on the task, which includes Japanese Classic queen Liberty Island (barrier 5), Aidan O'Brien's clever filly Content (9) and Wingspan (3), McDonald continued: “It's not an uncomplicated task , the Japanese are coming.” He's sturdy here, so we need the right start, but he's the right horse for it.
“I just really enjoy riding him, he’s very self-explanatory. Hopefully he can make it to the Hong Kong Cup for the third time. It would be appropriate if he could be considered one of, probably the best, Hong Kong horses in this Sha Tin territory. He just keeps piling them up.
Jetsetter Spirit Dancer wears the colors of legendary former Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson and coach Richard Fahey was undeterred by barrier 10 after recently claiming two successive victories in the G2 Bahrain International Trophy (2000m).
“The last two times in Bahrain we were drawn 11 players, so we are getting closer to the top,” said Fahey.
“I'm cheerful enough. He hasn’t had any problems getting here and I’m enjoying the journey.”
Ricky Yiu is in a double pack with Group 2 winner Straight Arron (four), a relatively novel recruit to his stable, and G3 Centenary Vase (1800m) hero Nimble Nimbus (two).
“It's a tough race for these two horses, but they are very consistent throughout the trip, especially Straight Arron,” Yiu said. “I've only had him run over a mile a few times, but it was always the plan to try him out in this race. I definitely think he can have a good race, he has improved out of sight.
“The nimble Nimbus is never hit far, no matter from the distance. He always comes in the money, so it will be fascinating to see how he does.”
