Romantic Warrior Downs Japanese Duo For Unprecedented Third Hong Kong Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

Sent off the $1.10 (1-10) mortal to become the first horse in the history of the event to win three renewals of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE) (g, 6, Acclamation {GB}–Folk Melody {Ire}, by Street Cry {Ire}) went to 2023 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}) at the 300 metres and, with jockey James McDonald taking a long look over his left shoulder in the final 50 metres, easily held off Triple Tiara heroine Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) for the the victory. With the win, Romantic Warrior becomes the highest-earning racehorse of all time, with earnings now in excess of a staggering US$22 million. Drawn gate one, the 300,000gns Tattersalls October yearling, who was sold on to owner Peter Lau at the Hong Kong International Sale, won the short sprint to the winning post for the first time and then easily came back to McDonald to sit third as Wingspan (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) took over turning down the back of the course. Ultimately racing in the one out and one back passing midway, Romantic Warrior was held together on the turn and was poised three wide at the final corner. Tastiera went to the front in upper stretch, but Romantic Warrior was breathing down his neck, drove past and pulled readily clear. Sales history: 300,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; HK4,800,000 HRA '21 HKIS. Lifetime Record: 22-17-3-0. O-Peter Lau Pak Fai; B-Corduff Stud & T J Rooney; T-Danny Shum.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG CUP-G1, HK$40,000,000, Sha Tin, 12-8, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:00.51, gd.
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 HKIS). O-Peter Lau Pak Fai; B-Corduff Stud & T J Rooney; T-Danny Shum; J-James McDonald; HK$22,400,000. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year, Ch. 4yo, 2x. Ch. Middle Distance Horse-HK, G1SW-Aus & Jpn, 22-17-3-0, $22,495,761. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Liberty Island (Jpn), 122, f, 4, Duramente (Jpn)–Yankee Rose (Aus), by All American (Aus). O-Sunday Racing Co Ltd; B-Northern Racing; T-Mitsumasa Nakauchida; J-Yuga Kawada; HK$8,400,000.
3–Tastiera (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Satono Crown (Jpn)–Partitura (Jpn), by Manhattan Cafe (Jpn). O-Carrot Farm Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm; T-Noriyuki Hori; J-Damian Lane; HK$4,600,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1 1/4, 2. Odds: 1-10, 83-10, 13-1.
Also Ran: The Foxes, Straight Arron (Aus), Calif (Ger), Content (Ire), Spirit Dancer (GB), Nimble Nimbus (NZ), Wingspan (Ire), Encountered (Ire). Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.

 

HISTORY MADE AS ROMANTIC WARRIOR WINS THE @LONGINES HONG KONG CUP! pic.twitter.com/QCLTNKx7y0

— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 8, 2024

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