One of Hong Kong’s greatest ever gallopers, Romantic Warrior, has been retired from racing after sustaining another leg injury.
In a statement released by the Jockey Club on Wednesday, owner Peter Lau Pak-fai confirmed the decision to end the Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained champion’s racing career after consulting the club’s veterinarians.
Scans last week revealed “a change in one of the horse’s joints”, similar to last year when Romantic Warrior underwent surgery to have a screw inserted into his left front leg.
The latest injury was to his other front leg.
“Hong Kong Jockey Club wishes to provide an update on global champion Romantic Warrior for his many fans around the world,” the statement said.
“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.”
Romantic Warrior won 24 of his 31 starts, including 15 at Group One level, and a world record HK$288.74 million in prize money.
His record-breaking achievements also included four consecutive Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) victories, four Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) triumphs and being the only Hong Kong-trained horse to win Group Ones in four different jurisdictions – Hong Kong, Australia, Japan and the UAE.
He was the first Hong Kong galloper to win one of Australia’s most famous races, the Group One Cox Plate (2,040m) in 2023 despite an interrupted preparation, and became the third horse to win Hong Kong’s Triple Crown earlier this year.
In his return from fetlock surgery, Romantic Warrior was unbeaten from six starts last season, earning him joint Horse of the Year honours with superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising.
Champion jockey James McDonald labelled Romantic Warrior “the best I have ever ridden”, while Shum says his stable star “is part of my family”.
“I love him. My son says I love Romantic Warrior more than him,” Shum said after one of Romantic Warrior’s victories last season.
