Romantic Warrior is poised to etch his name into the record books as the first three-time winner of the prestigious HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) this Sunday (8 December) at Sha Tin.

Drawing barrier one, the same gate that facilitated his comfortable victory in last month’s G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m), the local superstar appears primed for another stellar performance. Owner Peter Lau expressed confidence in the draw:

“Obviously, I’m very happy,” said Lau. “It’s the same draw as last time. I hope he races like last time. I’m looking forward to it.”

Romantic Warrior’s jockey, James McDonald, fresh off being crowned the 2024 LONGINES World's Best Jockey, has developed a remarkable partnership with the Danny Shum-trained gelding. Having guided him to consecutive victories in this event, McDonald believes the six-year-old is in peak condition.

“He’s in superb form and is going to be awfully hard to beat. He’s probably peaking better than he did last year,” McDonald remarked. “He’s just a perfect racehorse—gate speed, sustained speed, unflappable over a mile and a quarter. I’m excited to see if he can make it three.”

Facing stiff competition, including Japanese star Liberty Island (barrier 5), Aidan O’Brien’s contenders Content (9) and Wingspan (3), and Bahrain International Trophy winner Spirit Dancer (10), McDonald remains optimistic but cautious.

“It’s no easy task. The Japanese horses are strong, and we’ll need the right run. But he’s the right horse for the job,” McDonald said. “If he pulls it off, it would cement his legacy as one of the greatest Hong Kong horses to grace the Sha Tin turf.”

Spirit Dancer, owned by legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, will look to overcome a wide draw, though trainer Richard Fahey is unfazed.

“We were drawn 11 the last two times in Bahrain, so we’re getting closer to the inside,” Fahey joked. “He’s in great form and had no issues getting here.”

Local trainer Ricky Yiu also enters the race with two solid contenders, Straight Arron (4) and Nimble Nimbus (2). Both horses have demonstrated consistency, and Yiu remains hopeful.

“Straight Arron has improved significantly and should run a good race,” Yiu said. “Nimble Nimbus is incredibly consistent and never beaten far. It’ll be interesting to see how they fare.”

As anticipation builds, Romantic Warrior carries the hopes of local fans, aiming to achieve a historic milestone on Hong Kong’s biggest stage.