Romantic Warrior has pulled up well from his shock defeat in Saturday night’s Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m) at Meydan, with the Danny Shum Chap-shing stable looking forward to getting their hero home for a well-earned rest.
A hot favourite to add a Hong Kong record 11th Group One success to his glittering CV, Romantic Warrior had the measure of Japan’s Soul Rush everywhere but the finish line in an epic contest decided by the tightest of photo finishes.
“The horse has pulled up fine. He is healthy. He will come back to Hong Kong and have a rest. It’s been a long trip for him and we think he is a bit tired,” said Ben So Tik-hung, assistant trainer to Shum.
After completing quarantine in Dubai, Romantic Warrior will return to Hong Kong later this month to recover from his arduous campaign in the Middle East.
His next race is likely to come in November’s Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m).
While the world’s highest-earning racehorse will have to wait for his 11th Group One success, his exploits in the Middle East have done more for his reputation than anything he could have achieved at home in the past few months.
Soul Rush (outside) pips Romantic Warrior in Saturday night’s Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m).
A sparkling winner of the Group One Jebel Hatta (1,800m) at Meydan in January, Romantic Warrior had to settle for second to Forever Young in a Group One Saudi Cup (1,800m) battle that seemed to prove telling for both gallopers come Dubai World Cup night.
Feted by Hong Kong fans, Romantic Warrior has an ever-growing profile abroad and jockey Cristian Demuro spoke glowingly of Shum’s charge after getting his measure aboard Soul Rush.
“It’s as good a performance as he’s ever produced, he beat the best horse in the world today,” said Demuro.
“It is a special win because we are now part of the Romantic Warrior story. He doesn’t lose many races, but today he found a good horse.”
Now boasting a record of 18 wins and five seconds from 25 starts, Romantic Warrior’s second in the US$5 million (HK$39 million) Dubai Turf pushed his career earnings to HK$214,709,697.
Romantic Warrior’s next big target will be securing a record-extending fourth consecutive victory in December’s Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m), while there has already been chat that Shum and owner Peter Lau Pak-fai could give their champion another chance to master the Riyadh dirt in next year’s Saudi Cup.
