Two down, one to go – trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing says he won’t be content Romantic Warrior’s Triple Crown quest is complete.
Romantic Warrior and jockey James McDonald turned the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2,000 meters) into a procession at Sha Tin yesterday, landing the second leg of the Triple Crown and needing only a win in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) on May 24 to own another slice of Hong Kong racing history.
“We are happy but the job is not done yet, we want that Triple Crown,” Shum told The Standard after Romantic Warrior romped home to win by four lengths against his five overmatched rivals.”We want that history, he pulled up well today and I won’t take my eyes off him until then”
Romantic Warrior was already the highest earning horse in world racing history and added another HK$7.28 million yesterday to push his total prize money to more than HK$254m.
The eight-year-old’s next start will likely be in the G1 FWD QEII Cup on April 26 at Sha Tin over 2,000m before he will race for that place in history and a HK$5m bonus for completing the Triple Crown on May 27.
After winning the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Stewards’ Cup over 1,600m last month, Romantic Warrior was considered nearly unbeatable over 2,000m on his home track, a trip he has now won 13 of 14 starts, out of a career record of 22 wins from 29 starts.
That record is all the more remarkable considering Romantic Warrior underwent surgery and spent six months on the sidelines last year. He has returned in arguably career-best form to win four starts this season and Shum says his story isn’t over yet.
“He is going better than ever,” Shum said. “Still healthy, and still trying his best. I love this horse so much.”
