Danny Shum Chap-shing has confirmed Romantic Warrior will not run in the Saudi Cup in February, with the trainer putting “the welfare of the horse” first and favoring a Hong Kong Triple Crown campaign.
While Romantic Warrior came within a neck of the world’s best dirt horse, Forever Young, in a blockbuster renewal of the Saudi Cup in February, the trainer said owner Peter Lau Pak-fai has opted for a local campaign for his pride and joy.
“He won’t be going to Saudi or Dubai, he’ll be staying in Hong Kong for sure,” Shum told The Standard. “Peter made the decision. In the welfare of the horse, he thought it was best to stay in Hong Kong.
“The Stewards’ Cup is his first target and hopefully a mile will be OK for him. He’ll take on Voyage Bubble hopefully, which will be good to see.”
Hong Kong’s Triple Crown is made up of three Group 1 contests: the Stewards’ Cup (1,600 meters) on January 25, the Hong Kong Gold Cup (2,000m) on March 1 and the Champions & Chater Cup on May 25.
Romantic Warrior, who holds the record as the highest-earning racehorse in history with over HK$240 million to his name, sauntered home for his 11th Group 1 win in the Hong Kong Cup earlier this month.
"He’s pulled up very well after the Hong Kong Cup and I’m looking forward to the season,” Shum added.
The Hong Kong Cup marked Romantic Warrior’s second dominant win in succession after his return from injury. He had a screw inserted into an injured fetlock at the end of May following a gruelling Middle Eastern campaign last term.
In addition to his monumental effort in the Saudi Cup, Romantic Warrior also won Group 1 honors at Meydan Racecourse in January and fell agonizingly short of another top-level win in the Dubai Turf, which took place at Meydan on April 5.
He has once again set up another mouthwatering clash with last season’s Triple Crown hero Voyage Bubble, whom he dispatched earlier this season in November’s Group 2 Jockey Club Cup.
