Freshly crowned Australia’s greatest Group 1-winning jockey, James McDonald is hoping to add another victory at the highest level when he reunites with Romantic Warrior in the HK$30 million FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, 26 April.

McDonald surpassed the Group 1 record of retired jockey Damien Oliver’s 129 wins at the highest level when he rode Autumn Boy to victory in the G1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill in Sydney for champion trainer Chris Waller on 21 March.

Predicting he’ll eventually notch up 200 Group 1s, the 34-year-old New Zealander left Rosehill that day with another two Group 1 victories.

And the tally continues to climb.

McDonald can thank Danny Shum-trained Romantic Warrior for providing 12 of his Group 1 victories, with two of those achieved in the FWD QEII Cup – 2023 and 2024.

A win in this year’s race would match the gelding’s four G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) victories, which started with a win in the feature in 2022.

Injury robbed the eight-year-old of defending his FWD QEII Cup title last year, but he’s made a sensational return to racing and the general consensus is that he is as good as ever as he chases an extension to the record of FWD QEII Cup victories.

Champion jockey Hugh Bowman rode Romantic Warrior in a 1200m barrier trial last month and gave a glowing report, which excited McDonald.

“He feels great and just as powerful as ever,” Bowman said.

And Romantic Warrior, again ridden by Bowman, was untested when finishing second in a 1600m barrier trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday (14 April).

McDonald said he can’t wait to get back to Hong Kong and be reunited with Romantic Warrior.

“They say he is in fantastic form,” he said. “Hughie said he is as good as ever. He is a marvellous horse, but it is a big race coming up.

“I speak to Hughie quite often and he is over the moon with him, the same as Tommy Simpson who is his physio and the same with Danny. They have all sent me videos.

“They are just over the moon with the way he is feeling and looking. It’s a tough test, but he deserves it. If you want to be the best you have to beat the best, don’t you?”

McDonald says there is plenty of quality in this year’s FWD QEII Cup, headed by overseas raider Masquerade Ball who, along with Romantic Warrior, Royal Champion and Sosie, is an international Group 1 winner.

Four-year-old Masquerade Ball, who was beaten a head by Calandagan in record time at his most recent race in last November’s G1 Japan Cup (2400m), has a higher international rating of 128, compared to Romantic Warrior’s 125.

“Not after next Sunday (week),” McDonald quipped of his horse’s lower rating.

A well-credentialed four-year-old like Giovanni, who is trained by Haruki Sugiyama, is also a danger and has strong form lines through Croix du Nord, who has six wins from his nine races.

Forever Young was also a four-year-old when he narrowly defeated the older Romantic Warrior in last year’s thrilling finish to the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt).

“This is a good test for sure,” said McDonald, who has also been booked for rides in the other two Group 1 features.

He’ll partner last-start HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner Invincible Ibis, who set a new race record in triumphing, for in-form trainer Mark Newnham in the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m).

“Hughie gave him a terrific ride that day, so he had every opportunity to win it, but he still won it,” McDonald said. “He is still a Derby winner which is good.”

McDonald will ride Fast Network in the HK$24 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), where he’ll again face champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising.

“He has proven that he can run second to the big horse, so he is in with a good place chance,” he said.

As well as finishing second to Ka Ying Rising, McDonald has ridden Fast Network to two thirds behind the sprint star, whom he rates as one of the best he’s ever seen.

“He just seems to be getting better,” he said.

Photo: HKJC