There are few more exciting horses around the world, especially at eight years old, and Romantic Warrior is proving that his advancing years are no obstacle after taking a crucial step towards FWD Champions Day (26 April) on Thursday morning (26 March) at Sha Tin.

Impressing in his barrier trial over 1200m on the dirt, Danny Shum’s 13-time Group 1 winner appeared to be right on song as he aims to secure a record fourth HK$30 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) triumph to add to his already phenomenal CV.

Romantic Warrior, who won the FWD QEII Cup in 2022, 2023 and 2024, stepped alertly from the barriers under restraint from Hugh Bowman, crossing the line a hard-held one length ahead of the Group 1-winning Red Lion in 1m 10.70s.

Shum said: “I’m very happy; he’s sound and he’s happy. You can see by his trial, he’s very good, and James (McDonald) just asked me as he passed the winning post, ‘Happy?’, so I sent the video to him.”

Hong Kong International Sale graduate Romantic Warrior was recently ranked second behind Ka Ying Rising in the March edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. He is a 22-time winner, including 15 times under James McDonald, topped by Group 1 wins in Hong Kong, Australia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates, while his career earnings (HK$254.66 million) are a worldwide record.

Bowman said: “He was a little bit on the fresh side but, obviously, he has another month before he races. He feels great and just as powerful as ever.”

Group 1 winners Calandagan, Masquerade Ball, Royal Champion, Museum Mile, Sosie, Sir Delius, Danon Decile, Dubai Honour and Urban Chic have entries for the FWD QEII Cup – one of three elite races on FWD Champions Day alongside the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) and the HK$24 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m).

“We might have one more trial on the grass or just gallop around one lap – we’ll see how he responds, how he comes back, how he eats and how he feels. It’ll be a strong field. This will be the strongest QEII Cup, I think, in the last 10 to 15 years,” Shum said.

The evergreen Romantic Warrior has four wins from four starts this season, headlined by a record-extending fourth successive HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), in addition to the first two legs of the Triple Crown: the HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and the HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m).

The Triple Crown – won only by River Verdon (1993/94) and Voyage Bubble (2024/25) – climaxes with the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) on 24 May and carries a HK$10 million bonus for connections.

Voyage Bubble was sixth under Jerry Chau in the same heat, while Galaxy Patch (third), Patch Of Theta (fourth), Cap Ferrat (fifth) and Raging Blizzard (seventh) also took part.

Chau said: “It was my first time riding him. He’s a big horse with a big stride, but he’s a very smooth and quiet horse – easy to ride. He travelled very well in his trial and in the straight, I just asked him over the last 200 (metres), and he gave me a very good feeling.”

In the second heat over 1200m, Bowman guided Helios Express into third in 1m 10.11s for trainer John Size. The multiple Group 1-placed sprinter will step out in the HK$5.35 million G2 Sprint Cup (1200m) on Easter Monday (6 April) at Sha Tin.

“As we know, he doesn’t love that surface (dirt). So, you’ve got to keep him a little bit interested, but he was there for me. He had a good blow, and he’ll have to take on Ka Ying Rising again, but he’s in good order,” Bowman said.

Bowman rode My Wish in the third heat, surging from last-to-first in 1m 10.04s ahead of Easter Monday’s HK$5.35 million G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m), where Voyage Bubble is also entered, in preparation for 26 April’s FWD Champions Mile.

Second in the 2025 HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m), My Wish kickstarted this campaign with back-to-back Group race successes before finishing sixth in the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) as race favourite.

“I’m happy with him. I haven’t had as much to do with him as the other horses, but he trialled really well. He could, actually, really make his presence felt there, I think. So, I’m excited to be linking up with him again,” Bowman said.

Photo: HKJC