Hong Kong hero Romantic Warrior triumphs in Japan for eighth Group 1 victory

Hong Kong hero Romantic Warrior battled to yet more Group 1 glory as he made a winning debut in Japan to land the Yasuda Kinen.

The six-year-old was dropping back to a mile for the first time since January 2023, when he was defeated by Golden Sixty in the Stewards' Cup, but went one better in the international contest for trainer Danny Shum to seize his eighth top-level success.

Racing prominently behind leader Dobune, Romantic Warrior took his time to wind up but soon surged to the front under James McDonald and fended off the late challenge of Namur and Soul Rush to score by half a length.

McDonald said: "He's a proven champion, he's won one of the toughest races in Australia in the Cox Plate, he's won two Hong Kong Cups taking on strong opposition and now has come to Japan and won a mile race, a little bit shorter than his best distance. He always rises to the occasion and that's the beauty of this horse, he's got a heart of a lion and tremendous ability.

"I'm almost lost for words when I ride this horse because he's got a big heart and he tries his best all the time. It's such a hard jurisdiction to race in. There's such good horses and great jockeys, so it's an absolute privilege to be here and to be winning such a prestigious race is very, very special."

Romantic Warrior is paraded following his win in the Yasuda Kinen

Romantic Warrior claimed his fifth win in a row to complete a perfect season and become the third Hong Kong-trained winner to strike in the Yasuda Kinen after Fairy King Prawn in 2000 and Bullish Luck in 2006.

It was his second successful international trip following a win in the Cox Plate last autumn, after which he defended the Hong Kong Cup back on home territory in November by denying Friday's Coronation Cup winner Luxembourg by a short head.

He followed up the victory by landing the Hong Kong Gold Cup in February and his third consecutive success in the QEII Cup two months later, and will now return home for a holiday alongside rival Voyage Bubble, who finished 17th of 18 runners.

"James McDonald is world-class and he gave him a great ride," said the winning trainer. "He loves Romantic Warrior and Romantic Warrior loves him a lot. He always tries his best for James. I wasn't too nervous because I was confident in my horse, my team and my jockey.

"I think the best thing for the horse is to give him a break and let him rest. He's not going to race anymore this season."

Sunday's win also marked McDonald's first success in Japan, with his sole previous ride in the county over a decade ago. The 32-year-old jockey was denied another winner earlier on the card when Bitter Glace was just held in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy.

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