Hong Kong roundup: For 3rd time, Romantic Warrior wins Cup

In the end, history was achieved in the most impressive way imaginable.

Romantic Warrior became the first horse to win the Group 1, US$5.1 million Hong Kong Cup three times, doing so Sunday at Sha Tin in a manner befitting his status as his homeland’s pre-eminent equine ambassador.

So easily did the 6-year-old defy an array of international competition, in fact, that jockey James McDonald was able to stand up in his irons and salute the packed Sha Tin grandstand as he passed the finish line 1 1/2 lengths clear of Japan’s Liberty Island.

The heavy favorite in the feature of the annual Hong Kong International Races started slickly from the gates to start the 1 1/4-mile race. McDonald was able to allow him to settle into an easy rhythm in fourth place as Ireland filly Wingspan set the pace.

Another Japan challenger Tastiera had tracked in second and really provided the only competition to Romantic Warrior as they turned for home in a race very few got into. Liberty Island edged past her compatriot in the closing stages, but the winner already had wrapped up the contest with a quite stunning demonstration of power, speed and grace.

“That was unbelievable. I’m so proud of this horse,” McDonald said. “He’s just been remarkable, and it’s some effort by (trainer) Danny (Shum) and his team.

“The Japanese (horses) put it to him but with no luck. He’s the best. Forget the rest. He’s the best. He’s been flying, and anyone could ride him, because he’s that easy, but I’m the lucky one. He’s the horse of a lifetime. This was our moment to create history, and it felt like I was lining up for the winning kick for the All Blacks. It was a pinch-me moment.”

“He was confident and full of energy,” Shum said. “I stayed in the stables the whole time. I didn’t want to go out to talk too much. I work hard. I love my team, and my team has done a great job.”

Romantic Warrior already had flown the flag for Hong Kong in several other jurisdictions, winning the Cox Plate (G1) in Australia in October 2023. Shum and his team then took the brave decision to head to Japan in June, when he won the Yasuda Kinen (G1) in Tokyo.

This latest achievement in an unbeaten streak lasting longer than a year sees him move past another Hong Kong great Golden Sixty as the biggest money earner in racing history.

In February another enormous date is circled in his diary with a crack on the dirt for the US$20 million Saudi Cup (G1) going 1 1/8 miles. After that there is the US$12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) on April 5.

“He’s the best, but I have to take another bigger challenge to go to Dubai and Saudi Arabia, just because I haven’t been to Dubai for 25 years,” Shum said. “At that time I was assistant trainer for Mr. Ivan Allan. I had a new experience. I will make sure the team that go there are in the best form.”

Giavellotto rallies in Hong Kong Vase

Giavellotto produced an irresistible surge down the Sha Tin straight to stamp his authority on the 1 1/2-mile Hong Kong Vase (G1) under Oisín Murphy, ending a 12-year drought for U.K.-based trainers on Hong Kong International Races night dating to Ed Dunlop-trained Red Cadeaux in 2012.

The 5-year-old son of Mastercraftsman has established himself as a high-class stayer over trips between 1 3/4 and two miles, and trainer Marco Botti gave credit to Murphy for giving him the confidence to cut back to 1 1/2miles at this rarified level.

“Credit to Oisín, because first thing after the (1 3/4-mile) Group 1 Irish St. Leger, he mentioned this race, and he was adamant that we should come here,” Botti said. “We followed Oisín’s advice, and it worked out well.”

Giavellotto slid comfortably along the rail up the backstretch in the third wave, but his challenge looked to have hit the buffers when the gap slammed shut at the top of the straight just as João Moreira launched Japan-trained favourite Stellenbosch with a big run down the outside.

Murphy refused to panic. Having spotted the leaders a couple of lengths start, be cut back to the inside and broke the logjam at the head of the race, coming home 2 1/2 lengths clear of fellow Newmarket resident Dubai Honour. Stellenbosch stayed on for third.

Voyage Bubble scores in Hong Kong Mile

Voyage Bubble sealed his status as Hong Kong’s premier miler with a spirited victory in the Hong Kong Mile (G1) under McDonald for trainer Ricky Yiu.

Banishing memories of chasing former champion Golden Sixty’s tail in this race last year when second, Voyage Bubble followed his Jockey Club Mile (G2) triumph last month by staving off opposition from Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, France and Great Britain as the 8-5 favorite.

Unplaced in Dubai and Japan late last season, Voyage Bubble had his third run this term following an arduous 2023-24 campaign after finishing second off a break to Galaxy Patch in October, who was seventh after contending with the widest of 14 barriers and an interrupted run in the home straight. 

The win was Voyage Bubble’s second at the Group 1 level after winning the Stewards’ Cup in January.

“He’s (Voyage Bubble) a great horse in his own right,” McDonald said. “He felt excellent going to the gates today. He was really on the job. Credit to Ricky and his team. They’ve prepped him up beautifully. He just gives his all. He has a very big heart, and he’s very uncomplicated.”

Settled on the speed after the start, Voyage Bubble jostled for the lead with Beauty Eternal before leaving Zac Purton’s mount alone at the head of the field. Asked the question with about three-sixteenths of a mile to run, Voyage Bubble responded with trademark tenacity as Soul Rush unleashed late.

Japan’s raider Soul Rush, who finished fourth in 2023 behind Golden Sixty, made up significant ground to pinch second as Beauty Joy did similarly under Brenton Avdulla, but it was Voyage Bubble who savored victory by 1 1/4 lengths.

Ka Ying Rising soars in Hong Kong Sprint

Overcoming difficulties at the start and pressure throughout, Ka Ying Rising continued a meteoric rise to clinch the biggest win of his career with victory in the six-furlong Hong Kong Sprint (G1).

The Shamexpress gelding responded courageously for jockey Zac Purton and trainer David Hayes to record his eighth successive victory.

Slowly away, Ka Ying Rising eventually triumphed by a half-length over Hong Kong’s Helios Express with Japan raider Satono Reve a short head farther away in third place. He triumphed at 1-10, the shortest-priced favorite in the history of the race.

The winning time of 1:08.15 was outside Ka Ying Rising’s course record of 1:07.43 set in his previous start.

Purton, who has won the Hong Kong Sprint four times, claimed his 12th Hong Kong International Races win. He said the win as better than it looked.

“Something lunged at the gate just before he went, and it took his mind off it, and he turned his head, so he was a little bit slow to step,” Purton said. “And then Victor The Winner just bored my neck the whole way, and he never quite relaxed the way he has. He was working the whole way and never had time to relax.”

Purton also said Ka Ying Rising jumped over something in the stretch, and that distracted the 4-year-old who improved his record to nine wins from 11 starts.

“He wasn’t at his best today and is better than this and still got the job done,” Purton said.

Hayes will wait to see how his rising star recovers before deciding on his next assignment.

“We’ll see how he pulls up, but the initial one will be the Group 1 sprint in late January, six weeks between the runs,” Hayes said. “And then after that, we’ll make a decision whether we go to the (Hong Kong Classic) mile or not.”

Starlust, who won the five-furlong Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint for trainer Ralph Beckett on Nov. 2 at Del Mar, finished 13th of 14.

Nobals, who has been shipped from the U.S. to race in the Hong Kong Sprint, was scratched Friday because of a fever.

Coverage of the entire Hong Kong Thoroughbred season at Horse Racing Nation is made possible through a sponsorship by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.