Danny Shum has sounded an ominous warning over Romantic Warrior’s form and fitness ahead of the champion’s highly anticipated return in the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (17 November).
While conceding the eight-time Group 1 winner is not yet fully fit, Shum said the elite stayer was in better shape than when he finished fourth when resuming in the G1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on 7 October, 2023 – a pipe-opener which subsequently paved the way for five successive Group 1 victories in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan.
With Romantic Warrior (128lb) to jump from barrier one under James McDonald against Nimble Nimbus, Five G Patch, Encountered, La City Blanche, Sword Point, Ka Ying Generation, Ensued, Money Catcher, Awesome Fluke and Winning Dragon, who will all carry 123lb, Shum is confident heading into Sunday's assignment.
"He is good and he's had a lot of preparation. Hugh rode him for his trials and we had very positive reports," Shum said. "Of course he's not (100 per cent). But, to be honest, his condition is much better than when he went to Melbourne in the early part of last season.
"He didn't know the climate (in Melbourne) and it was bit strange for him, but now he's stayed in Hong Kong, he's really enjoyed it. I've watched some of James McDonald's racing and he's on top form. The horse is happy, the jockey is on top form and there's not a really strong field, so I'm confident he can run a good race."
Romantic Warrior chases a second BOCHK Jockey Club Cup triumph this weekend as part of the template Shum used in 2022 before he claimed the first of his G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) victories.
Having added a second LONGINES Hong Kong Cup last season, the acclamation six-year-old will bid to become the first horse to win Hong Kong's richest race – worth HK$40 million this season – three times.
Beyond that, Shum is contemplating an ambitious tilt at Middle Eastern features including the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) in Riyadh in February and the G1 Dubai World Cup (2000m, dirt) in April, but the trainer is currently focused on attempting to match Golden Sixty's Hong Kong record of 10 Group 1 wins and overtaking the retired champion's record prizemoney haul.
With 15 wins from 20 starts, Romantic Warrior has accumulated HK$151.92 million and is bearing down on Golden Sixty's world-record earnings of HK$167.17 million.
"He's such a tough horse. The only thing is, I always forget that he's a six-year-old, I always think he's a three-year-old. He's very good and he's working hard," Shum said.
"He always does his best. When he does trackwork, he does it very easily, but when he gets to the turf and goes into the barrier, he is very serious and always tries his best. He's so easy to manage. He always eats well and if I scope him 100 times, every time he's clean. I'm very happy with him."
Shum is also represented by Victor The Winner in the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) this weekend. The G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) winner will be ridden by barrier one by Derek Leung.
As one of three top-tier winners in the race, Victor The Winner will carry 128lb on Sunday along with California Spangle and Invincible Sage, while the rest of the field – Ka Ying Rising, Lucky With You, Flying Ace, Howdeepisyourlove, Mugen, Helios Express , Beauty Waves , Copartner Prance and Majestic Knight – will carry 123lb.
The race is expected to provide critical form references for the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on 8 December. Similarly, the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) will provide a guide for the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m).
Group 1 winners Voyage Bubble (128lb) and Beauty Eternal (128lb) head Sunday's field from Straight Arron, Beauty Joy, Galaxy Patch, Happy Together, Red Lion, Taj Dragon and Chancheng Glory who all carry 123lb.
The first of 11 races at Sunday's (17 November) Bank of China (Hong Kong) Race Day is the Class 4 BOCHK Cross-Border Services Handicap (1200m) at 12.30pm.
