Romantic Warrior, Forever: A Fourth Straight Hong Kong Cup and a Legend That Keeps Rolling

Danny Shum’s Star Shines Again at Sha Tin, Achieving an Unprecedented Milestone in One of the World’s Great Races

Romantic Warrior, a Champion in Every Sense of the Word / HKJC

There are exceptional champions, and then there are horses who transcend their time. Romantic Warriorunquestionably belongs to the latter. On Sunday, before a packed Sha Tin awash in his unmistakable light-blue colors, the son of Acclamation etched another golden chapter into history by capturing the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1, 2000m) for a fourth consecutive time, a feat unmatched since the race’s inception in 1988.

With the calm assurance of the truly great and the authority of a horse with nothing left to prove, James McDonaldguided him to a decisive 1 3/4-length victory over Japan’s Bellagio Opera (Lord Kanaloa), while Quisisana (Le Havre) closed late to complete the trifecta. It was precisely the performance the crowd expected—and still one that stirred deep emotion.

A graduate of the Hong Kong International Sale, Romantic Warrior now boasts 11 Grade 1 victories across four different jurisdictions, a testament to his versatility, durability, and elite class. Just weeks shy of his eighth birthday, he shows no hint of regression.

The race unfolded without drama. Galen (Gleneagles) set the tempo in a bid to steal it, but McDonald always had his mount traveling comfortably “within himself.” As they straightened, the roar from the grandstand swelled. At the 400-meter mark, Romantic Warrior swept to the front and was never threatened.

As applause washed over the track, trainer Danny Shum took a brief moment to jot down the result in his racecard before being engulfed by congratulations.

“I’m very proud of Romantic Warrior and the entire team—they work incredibly hard,” Shum said. “It’s a big relief, because there was a lot of pressure. After the surgery, it was a challenge, but he’s a gentle, kind horse—part of my family. My son says I love Romantic Warrior more than I love him,” he joked.

Shum also highlighted the champion’s easy temperament. “He doesn’t need much work. His appetite and his weight tell you everything about how he’s doing.”

McDonald, still visibly moved, put into words what so many were feeling: “He’s very special—he’s a phenomenon. I don’t know what to say. I love him.”

In an era dominated by eye-watering numbers and increasingly abbreviated campaigns, Romantic Warrior feels like a nod to another time—when great champions traveled, competed, and repeatedly faced the very best. Perhaps one day another horse will eclipse his earnings record, but this fourth Hong Kong Cup will stand as a milestone that may never be erased.

The future hints once more at a renewed showdown with Forever Young (Real Steel), following their unforgettable Saudi Cup (G1) clash in which the light-blue hero fell with honor. Shum, however, remains cautious. “He doesn’t know he’s about to turn eight. The plan is always decided by the owner, Peter Lau. We trust him completely.”

Romantic Warrior is already living history. And, as so often with him, the best may still be yet to come.