Romantic Thor almost certainly earned a tilt at the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) after the Irish import revelled in rain-affected conditions to claim the HK$4.2 million G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (3 May).

Given a perfectly judged ride, Romantic Thor (116lb) led throughout to defeat Gentlemen Legacy (129lb) by half a length with Winning Wing (135lb), one-and-a-quarter lengths further back in third in 2m 30.76s to triumph for the first time in Hong Kong.

Formerly known as Capulet when trained by Aidan O’Brien in Ireland, the Justify gelding won the Listed Dee Stakes (2064m) at Chester in 2024 but struggled to adapt to Hong Kong conditions and battled injuries, prompting trainer Danny Shum to plot a conservative path.

Shum’s patience paid off in spectacular fashion as the five-year-old scythed through yielding conditions to earn a PP bonus of HK$1.5 million and the chance at Group 1 company – alongside 14-time Group 1-winning stablemate Romantic Warrior, who is chasing a HK$10 million Triple Crown bonus after wins in the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m).

Shum was delighted with Romantic Thor’s performance under jockey Matthew Poon.

“Today he was the front runner – and also put on the fence – he got all the advantages. He’s lightweight, he can go in front, he can control the pace. So, he had everything to benefit on his hand.

“Matthew, he controlled the pace fantastic. I always say Matthew is a very good jockey. I think he will (go to the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup) – it’d be nice to have two runners in it.”

Poon and Shum combined to win the Queen Mother Memorial Cup with Butterfield in 2021.

“Danny and I knew he could do this (win over 2400m) and today he carried a light weight and he loved the track conditions. Before the race we had confidence he would show something and we’re glad he did,” Poon said.

“I didn’t feel like he was stopping at any stage and after the 1000m, I asked him to increase the speed gradually and he was able to continue to the winning post. He was not going to be easy to catch for the other horses because they were also spending energy.

“So, the race worked out pretty much as we expected and we’re very happy it did. Danny has given me a second Group 3 in the same race – Danny is a brilliant trainer and I’m so glad to ride this winner for him.”

By Leo Schlink

Photo: HKJC