'I'll treasure him forever' - tributes flow as retirement announced for the horse who won £28 million

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James McDonald has paid emotional tribute to Romantic Warrior, who will join him in retirement in Australia after recovering from the injury which ended his racing career in Hong Kong.

The rider struck up a special relationship with the globetrotting star, partnering him to 20 of his 31 starts and all but one of his 15 Group 1 victories, including the 2023 Cox Plate in Australia, 2024 Yasuda Kinen in Japan and 2025 Jebel Hatta in Dubai. 

Romantic Warrior, who is trained by Danny Shum and owned by Peter Lau, retires as the highest-earning racehorse of all time having amassed £28,028,453 during a prize-laden international career. 

The redoubtable eight-year-old bay gained a legion of fans for his performances at the highest level from a mile to a mile and a half. He won his fourth Hong Kong Cup in 2025 and both the QEII Cup and Hong Kong Gold Cup twice. 

He was last seen winning the Champions & Chater Cup in May, when he battled past Numbers to score by half a length and survived a stewards' inquiry to round off a flawless final season.

"I felt pretty sad actually and I’m not a very emotional person," McDonald said in a video on Instagram. "It did hit me. Peter Lau, his owner, has kindly given us the opportunity to look after him here in Australia and to see out his life. We can’t wait to have him. It’s the least we can give back to what he’s given us.

"Every time I rode him I cherished it like it was my last ride on him and now he’s coming down and we can enjoy him without the pressure – we can enjoy his company."

It was unclear whether Romantic Warrior would bounce back to his best after a screw was inserted into his left foreleg following his defeat to Japanese star Forever Young in a memorable running of the Saudi Cup in 2025. 

However, the Hong Kong champion returned better than ever, winning five more Group 1 races at Sha Tin and becoming just the third horse in history to win the Triple Crown in 2026 after River Verdon (1994) and Voyage Bubble (2025).

Romantic Warrior (left): battled to Cox Plate victory at Moonee Valley in 2023Credit: Vince Caligiuri

"I'd say he’s been the one that’s really catapulted my career on the world stage," McDonald said. "He’s been that good, he’s travelled to the Middle East and conquered. I’ve never been beaten on him in Hong Kong, which is something else. 

"I can look back and say I had 20 rides on this wonderful racehorse and 19 of them were arguably some of my greatest days on a racetrack. He’s definitely a rockstar and a horse who I’ll treasure forever and be very thankful for. 

"We got a painting done of him after Dubai – he just captured me. Jockeys don’t tend to get emotionally involved because we only experience the racedays and the trackwork, but you can see why trainers and staff adore them so much because they’re with them all the time. 

"He’s been such a great racehorse to us; he’s just one of a kind."

James McDonald poses for cameras as Romantic Warrior wins the 2024 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo

Romantic Warrior's retirement was announced by the Hong Kong Jockey Club on Wednesday after a physical examination last month revealed a change in a joint that required further attention.

A statement read: "Romantic Warrior’s connections, in consultation with the club's veterinarians, have decided to retire Romantic Warrior from racing following further detailed diagnostic imaging and assessment of his front leg at the club's state-of-the-art veterinary hospital.

"Romantic Warrior will spend the next three months at Conghua Racecourse under the continued monitoring of the club’s veterinarians before being transitioned to his retirement home with the assistance of the club’s Restart Racehorse Aftercare Programme, which involves a holistic approach to horse aftercare following the completion of racing careers.

"The club will arrange a farewell ceremony for Romantic Warrior at a Sha Tin raceday later this season. Details of the farewell ceremony will be shared as soon as they are available."

Ka Ying Rising, the world’s best sprinter, is still on course for his return in Saturday's Group 3 Chief Executive’s Cup at Sha Tin despite being found with a minor left hind hoof condition this week.

The David Hayes-trained six-year-old, on a 20-race winning streak after landing the Chairman's Sprint in April, is being monitored for bruising in the left hind foot but is still due to gallop on Thursday. 

Read these next:

Romantic Warrior leaves it late and forced to survive stewards' inquiry but becomes just third Hong Kong Triple Crown winner 

'Every time I hop on him I just cherish the moment' - Romantic Warrior cruises to victory in second leg of Hong Kong Triple Crown 

History made at Sha Tin as Ka Ying Rising equals 21-year record with 17th successive victory | Romantic Warrior lands first leg of Triple Crown 

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