“A Romantic ending to a FLAWLESS campaign”
Credit: Hong Kong Jockey Club
Romantic Warrior became just the third horse ever to win the Hong Kong Triple Crown on Sunday, but it wasn’t without controversy.
At the top of the straight, Romantic Warrior looked to have a mountain to climb, sitting five lengths adrift of runaway leaders Romantic Thor and Numbers. However, under vigorous urging from star jockey James McDonald, the champion horse showcased his trademark grit to mow down the front-runners.
Numbers, however, did not relinquish his lead to the champ easily and pressured Romantic Warrior all the way to the line to finish a close second.
The drama intensified in the closing stages. While hauling in the leaders, Romantic Warrior appeared to shift his running line, seemingly impeding Japanese raider Deep Monster.
A tense post-race Stewards’ inquiry followed, but officials ultimately ruled there was no material interference. The placings remained unaltered, cementing Romantic Warrior’s Triple Crown glory and leaving Deep Monster in third.
“We'll run him over six [furlongs] next," McDonald joked when asked if there was anything Romantic Warrior could not do.
"Triple Crown winner, he thoroughly deserved that. I loved an article I read about the boss [Shum] saying he's already an immortal, and I totally agree with him.
"He didn't need to win this to be that, but he's put the cherry on top. He should be Horse of the Year this year and I think he's stamped that by winning the Triple Crown."
Heading into the final leg of his gruelling campaign, significant doubts lingered over Romantic Warrior’s ability to handle the demanding 2,400-meter distance.
Prior to Sunday, his solitary attempt at the trip came in this exact race in 2023, where he was agonisingly denied by a neck by Russian Emperor.
With this victory, Romantic Warrior joins an elite echelon of turf legends. The only other horses to achieve the Hong Kong Triple Crown are River Verdon in 1994 and Voyage Bubble last year. The gruelling series comprises the Stewards’ Cup (1,600m), the Hong Kong Gold Cup (2,000m), and the Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m).
