Golden Sixty beat him twice but Romantic Warrior has changed. Shane Dye revisits the rivalry between two of the all-time greats.
People keep asking me the same question: who was better – Golden Sixty or Romantic Warrior?
When they actually raced each other, there's not much argument. Golden Sixty was the better horse then. He beat Romantic Warrior at a mile in the 2023 Stewards' Cup, and beat him again next start in the Hong Kong Gold Cup at 2000 metres – Romantic Warrior's pet trip. No excuses, no pilot error. Golden Sixty just beat him fair and square.
But here's the thing. What if they raced now? I'm not so sure I'd say the same thing anymore.
Romantic Warrior is eight now, he's had leg surgery, and in a sport where horses don't usually improve after seven, he's doing exactly that. I honestly believe he's better now than he was one, two, three years ago. His trials this season were better than ever. He's moving better. Maybe that leg problem had been bothering him for a while, because now he's racing like a horse with no pain.
What I love about Romantic Warrior – and what separates the very best from the merely very good – is that as a jockey, you can do more with him in a race. He adapts. He doesn't need everything to go perfectly. Champions are horses that can adjust mid-race to whatever situation they are presented with.
Sunday's Stewards' Cup was the perfect example. Voyage Bubble missed the start and at Group 1 level, you're basically gone. But Romantic Warrior jumped clean and James McDonald had options. When he didn't like where he was, he rolled forward to sit outside the lead – and Romantic Warrior did it without over-racing. A lot of horses can't do that. This bloke just switches off and lets you put him where you need him. It reminds me of the Australian champion Kingston Town – the type of horse that could make two or three different moves in a race and still finish it off. That's rare.
Before I get to my pick – why are people so afraid to have these discussions? I copped it when I said Ka Ying Rising would beat Black Caviar. Sections of the internet went wild, especially back in Australia. But it wasn't disrespect. Black Caviar was a champion – unbeaten in 25 races, an all-time great. You're allowed to say that and still have an opinion about another horse. This idea that if you pick one, you're knocking the other – it's nonsense. Most people are just scared of getting roasted in the comments section on social media.
So, Romantic Warrior now versus Golden Sixty at his best? At 2000 metres, I don't think there's much question – I'd want to be on Romantic Warrior. At a mile, that's where it gets close, because that was Golden Sixty's sweet spot and he was an absolute weapon there. But even then, I'm not dismissing Romantic Warrior the way I would have a couple of years ago. Today, it's a different ball game. He is racing better than ever.
No Relief In Sight For The Chasing Pack
It’s going to be tough for the beaten brigade that finished behind Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior last Sunday – there's no relief coming any time soon.
Both of Hong Kong's current superstars aren't just winning – they're stepping up in distance next start. That only tightens the squeeze on everyone else.
Ka Ying Rising heads to the 1400-metre Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, a race he won last year, and a race that now offers him a shot at history. One more win would take him past Silent Witness' long-standing record of 17 consecutive victories.
People keep searching for the chink in the armour – the distance test, the moment he finally blinks – but I just don't see it at 1400 metres. He's already shown he can run it. The way he relaxes and then explodes, it's a distance that will suit him, not test him.
What he did on Sunday in the Centenary Sprint Cup was ridiculous. Seventeen straight now. He quickened again and he wasn't even pushed out properly late. That's the scary part.
Romantic Warrior, after winning the Stewards' Cup at a mile, stays firmly on the Hong Kong Triple Crown path. Next up is the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup, then later a crack at the G1 Champions & Chater Cup.
I know he got beaten at 2400 metres last time he tried it, but I'll put it on record: I think he wins it this time. He's a better horse than he was then – stronger, sounder, and racing with a confidence you don't often see in an eight-year-old.
For everyone else chasing these two, the message is simple. The bar hasn't dropped. If anything, it's about to be raised again.
This story first appeared on Idol Horse as "Romantic Warrior vs Golden Sixty: What Would Happen If They Raced Today?"
