Romantic Warrior Outduels Prognosis In the FWD QE II Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

Look out, Golden Sixty, ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE) (g, 6, Acclamation {GB}–Folk Melody {Ire}, by Street Cry {Ire}) is coming for one of your records. One race after the three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year struggled with the underfoot conditions in the G1 FWD Champions Mile, Romantic Warrior got just the better of a valiant and brilliantly ridden Prognosis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in a final-furlong tussle to win the G1 FWD QE II Cup for the third year running. Three deep into the first turn from a high draw, Romantic Warrior was hung out to dry without cover before James McDonald tapped on the brakes just enough to allow the 6-year-old to slot in on the back of Sword Point (Aus) (American Pharoah) in the two path. Seconds later, Yuga Kawada set last year's runner-up Prognosis alight after a very tardy dispatch, zooming up outside of rivals to be a forward factor as North Bridge (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) was on an all-the-way mission up front. Appearing to spin his wheels in the rain-affected going passing the 600 metres, Romantic Warrior followed the four-wide move of Prognosis into the Sha Tin straight. Finally finding his best stride with a furlong and a half to race, he edged past Prognosis, who remained in for the fight, but ultimately went down to a half-length defeat. North Bridge lasted for third. Romantic Warrior has amassed earnings of roughly HK$142 million, within shouting distance of Golden Sixty's HK$167 million as the leading money spinner in the history of the Hong Kong turf. Sales history: 300,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; HK$4,800,000 HRA '21 HKJUN. O-Peter Lau; B-T J Rooney & Corduff Stud; T-Danny Shum.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
FWD QE II CUP-G1, HK$28,000,000, Sha Tin, 4-28, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:01.02, yl.
1–ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE), 126, g, 6, by Acclamation (GB)
1st Dam: Folk Melody (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Folk Opera (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire)
3rd Dam: Skiphall (GB), by Halling
(300,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; HK$4,800,000 HRA '21 HKJUN). O-Peter Lau Pak Fai; B-Corduff Stud & T J Rooney; T-Danny Shum-; J-James McDonald; HK$15,680,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 4yo, 2x. Ch. Middle Distance Horse-HK, 19-14-3-0, HK$142,756.024. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Prognosis (Jpn), 126, h, 6, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Velda (GB), by Observatory. O-Shadai Race Horse Co Ltd; B-Shadai Farm; T-Mitsu Nakauchida; J-Yuga Kawada; HK$5,880,000.
3–North Bridge (Jpn), 126, h, 6, Maurice (Jpn)–Amazing Moon (Jpn), by Admire Moon (Jpn). (¥34,560,000 Ylg '19 JBBAJUL). O-Noboru Iyama; B-Murata Bokujo; T-Takeshi Okumura; J-Yasunari Iwata; HK$3,220,000.
Margins: NK, 2, 3/4. Odds: 9-10, 22-5, 103-1.
Also Ran: Happy Together (Ire), Hishi Iguazu (Jpn), Five G Patch (Ire), Dubai Honour (Ire), Massive Sovereign (Ire), Nimble Nimbus (NZ), Straight Arron (Aus), Sword Point (Aus).  Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.

HISTORY MADE!

Romantic Warrior becomes the first horse in history to win three FWD QEII Cups, soaring to an almighty success over Prognosis… @mcacajamez #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/GtmQrG7JNV

— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 28, 2024

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