average engine under the hood, and better races were beyond doubt in the immediate future. Romantic Warrior took to Class 3 company with similar ease, stepping one-by-one again. Unbeaten from four starts, he came into the prestigious Hong Kong Four-Year-Old Classic Series as one of the main chances, along with California Spangle, a bold frontrunner ridden by our own Zac Purton. Romantic Warrior beat California Spangle in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m), California Spangle then hit back and won the second leg in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), but Romantic Warrior would get the last laugh and win the Hong Kong Derby (2000m) in the decider, beating California Spangle in second again. The rivalry between the pair continued into their five-year-old season, and epic stoushes with Hong Kong’s champion horse Golden Sixty had the trio nicknamed ‘The Big Three’. While the Hong Kong Four-Year-Old Classic Series races are only considered ‘Domestic Group 1 races’, that is, they are not recognised as Group 1 on the international stage, Romantic Warrior has since taken home three Weight For Age Group 1 races that are. He won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in 2022, backed it up with the biggest win of his career in the Hong Kong Cup later that year, then defended his crown in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup back in April. In his latest three victories, he’s been partnered by last year’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate winning jockey James McDonald, who will ride him in this year’s race. The world’s leading rider in 2022/23, Jmac has been full of praise for the Hong Kong superstar and will be hoping lightning can strike for a second time come the last Saturday in October. “It just sets up beautifully for him”, McDonald told us. “His best trip is 10-furlongs, he’s got a high cruising speed, he’s got tactical speed, he can sustain a long run and he’s got an unbelievable turn of foot – he’s an absolute beast. “This is a pretty outstanding horse, he’s got a phenomenal will to win and I’m pretty excited they took the opportunity to bring him down for such a great race. “The prizemoney is great in Hong Kong, but they’re willing to go and win some of the best races in the world. “He’s definitely up there with some of the best horses I’ve sat on, and hopefully he can stand up and be counted come Cox Plate time.” One of the direct form references that only enhances the credentials of Romantic Warrior is through the William Haggas trained Dubai Honour, who was one of the horses of the Australian Autumn in 2023. Dubai Honour won the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill Gardens by four-and-a-half lengths, then backed it up with an even more stunning victory in the Queen Elizabeth, belting Mo’unga and Anamoe by two-and-a-half. He subsequently went to Hong Kong and could only manage to get within that very margin of Romantic Warrior in the QEII Cup. In that said race, Romantic Warrior also handled a well credentialed Japanese horse in Prognosis, who flew back home and won the Group 2 Sapporo Kinen by four lengths, stamping the form again. Romantic Warrior’s incredible CV won’t be what queries punters this Spring Carnival though. A change of feed, rigorous vetting process and the weight of history is what stands in Romantic Warrior’s way. A Hong Kong trained horse has never won the W.S. Cox Plate, and overall, their record down under is scarce to be kind. If he is to become the first he will go down as of the very best internationals ever to grace our shores.
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