Karl Burke believes Romantic Warrior will need to be at his best to defeat an on-song Royal Champion in the HK$30 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) on 26 April.

The North Yorkshire trainer is under no illusions about the task his stable star faces but thinks a reproduction of his dominant performance in the G1 Neom Turf Cup (2100m) at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February will see him threaten the local superstar as he bids for a fourth win in the race following successes in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Royal Champion’s latest run was a career-best effort, and the sprightly eight-year-old has also landed the G2 York Stakes (2051m) and G2 Bahrain International Trophy (2000m) since joining Burke in December, 2024, making him one of the top older horses in Europe.

“We’re looking forward to it,” the trainer said. “He seems in good form, and he’s due to fly out on Friday (17 April). If we can put up a performance like we did in Saudi, when he had the race won three furlongs out, it will take a horse like Romantic Warrior at his best to beat him. Talking to some of the Hong Kong guys, they give us a chance of certainly giving him a race, if not beating him.

“Romantic Warrior is a fantastic horse and taking on horses like him is what international racing is all about. It’s not as if he’s been to Britain and we can get a guide on how good he is, and sometimes horses don’t perform to their best in the international races, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

It is a bold statement from a trainer who has yet to have a runner in Hong Kong, but Royal Champion is well-travelled, having been based in Australia with Anthony & Sam Freedman between his two British stints.

He has taken on a new lease of life since arriving at Burke’s yard, including when finishing an honourable third in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) at Leopardstown, Ireland, in September last year, and the trainer believes the FWD QEII Cup will represent his ideal scenario.

“Our regime suits him,” he said. “As soon as he arrived back from Australia, you could tell straight away he was a classy horse. He’s always worked well, but his work and racecourse performances improved after the York Stakes.

“It won’t be easy going over there as it will be very muggy and warm, so he’s got to overcome that, but he seems to travel well. The thing he’s got in his favour is that once he’s fit, he doesn’t take a lot of work and we know his routine pretty well – that’s a big advantage.

“The race conditions will be perfect. Oisin (Murphy) thought a left-handed track could suit him more, but he’s won around Ascot and I don’t think it will be a problem. He beat Facteur Cheval by over four lengths last time and that horse was beaten the same distance in the Dubai Turf (G1, 1800m), so there is a good formline there.”

Murphy will retain the ride at Sha Tin on FWD Champions Day as Royal Champion takes on a stellar field, including the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) winner Masquerade Ball and Sosie, who was last seen winning the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at the track in December.

Photo: HKJC