Karis Teetan raved about Romantic Warrior after enjoying his first sit on the global superstar since August 2023 when he ran second to Voyage Bubble in a tactical trial at Sha Tin on Friday morning.

It was an intriguing duel between the Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained 12-time Group One winner and Voyage Bubble, with the pair both getting a blow in ahead of their clash in next week’s Group One Gold Cup (2,000m).

Voyage Bubble sat on the shoulder of the returning Cap Ferrat for much of the journey, with Romantic Warrior hot on his heels, before sweeping past in tandem with his rival in the straight.

The pair finished with just half a length between them and Teetan was more than happy with his reunion ride on a horse he landed the Group One QEII Cup (2,000m) on back in 2022.

“It was good to get back on him after almost three years, even if it was a trial, just to get a feel of him again. His trial was really good – he jumped really well and just did his usual thing,” said Teetan, who will hand the reins over to Romantic Warrior’s regular race rider James McDonald next week.

“The trial was run very slow, so I just left him where he was. Danny just wanted to stretch his legs a little bit and not overdo it, so that’s what I did. He quickened up nicely.”

Teetan last sat on Romantic Warrior when they finished second in a barrier trial at Sha Tin back in August 2023 and the Mauritian jockey was surprised by just how much the Acclamation galloper has improved since.

“When I came back, Danny asked me how different he felt from three years ago, and I said to him he feels actually better than he did back then,” said Teetan.

“He’s shown that from how much he’s improved since then, but you do feel like he’s got so much life into him and has so much to offer. He moves so good and it’s actually surprising; it’s hard to tell people who haven’t sat on him but you can just feel the energy he gives off.

“The last time I rode him was in this race two years ago when I was beaten by Golden Sixty. I think it’s going to be a good race again, his last few runs have shown how good he is and he’ll arrive into the race in great form.”

In the same trial, fellow Gold Cup hopeful My Wish finished a leisurely sixth for Mark Newnham when paired with Hugh Bowman for the first time.

It was a busy morning for Newnham, who also watched Classic Cup (1,800m) contender Infinite Resolve finish third in the same trial, while Invincible Ibis, who heads to the same race on March 1, was a close third in a dirt trial won by Happy Shooter.

“Infinite Resolve just needed the 1,600m trial on the turf to help prepare him to run the 1,800m out, but he settled nicely and finished behind two champions. It was a slow pace but he managed to relax well, which is what we wanted to see,” Newnham said of the last-start Classic Mile runner-up.

“Invincible Ibis has had a couple of runs at the mile so I didn’t feel he needed to have a 1,600m trial – he just needed today’s competition to just keep his fitness levels where they needed to be. Hugh was very happy with him and he was strong through the line.

“It was a really good trial from My Wish too, we just needed Hugh to have a spin on him. He went to the line untested and went through it strongly, so I was very pleased.”