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Romantic Warrior and James McDonald win their 4th Hong Kong Cup at the Longines International Races at Sha Tin Race Course in, Hong Kong, China on December 14, 2025. Alex Evers/ HKJC
Tom Peacock
Romantic Warrior turned on the style at Sha Tin as he headed further into folklore with an unprecedented fourth straight victory in the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on Sunday (14 December).
It was a performance that the fans lining the rails sporting the champion’s light blue colours would have expected as James McDonald steered his mount a convincing length and three-quarters ahead of Bellagio Opera.
Hong Kong International Sale graduate Romantic Warrior has now reached a tally of 11 Group 1s in four different jurisdictions. Just short of his eighth birthday, he does not seem to be stopping any time soon.
McDonald broke cleanly and sat just behind a steady pace set largely by Galen, whose rider Dylan Browne McMonagle sought to get first run on the field as the group of seven turned into the home straight.
Romantic Warrior, though, was travelling well within himself and the crowd began to roar. With 400m remaining, he was in front and never looked to be passed despite the delayed challenge of Bellagio Opera, with Quisisana sneaking in late for third.
Winning trainer Danny Shum took a brief moment to write down the final result in his racebook before he was descended upon by well-wishers.
“I’m very proud of Romantic Warrior and our stable team, they work really hard,” Shum said. “It’s a big relief. He always gives me a lot of happiness, not only me but my stable, owners, my family and in Hong Kong, even racing fans or non-racing fans, they all love Romantic Warrior.
“To be honest, there was a lot of pressure. He had his surgery (when a screw was inserted in his left front leg at the end of May), but he is such a good, calm, lovely horse. He’s part of my family, I love him. My son says I love Romantic Warrior more than him!
“He’s very easy to train. He doesn’t need too much work and his body weight will tell you, his appetite will tell you how fit he is.”
McDonald, however, was almost lost for words in the immediate aftermath. “He’s so special, he’s so special,” he said. “He’s just a freak. I don’t know what to say … I just love him. I love him.”
Romantic Warrior is very much a star of the modern age, his exploits documented in vivid high definition across every form of media. In some ways, though, he is a throwback to the boldly campaigned heroes of yesteryear.
While both inflation and the lucrative purses on offer around the globe make it likely that his position as the highest-earning racehorse of all time will be eclipsed at some point, his feat in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup will stand the test of time.
Romantic Warrior was already the only horse to have won this race three times since it was first staged in 1988, even before adding a fourth. He is likely to now be geared towards another face-off with Forever Young, who he had pushed all the way to the line in that famous G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) showdown earlier this year.
Shum, however, will wait for the go-ahead from the gelding’s owner, Peter Lau, before committing to plans.
“I always say, we know he’s turning eight really soon, but he doesn’t know he’s turning eight,” he said.
“This is amazing. He’s been in Australia, Japan, Dubai, second in the biggest prize money in the world in Saudi (Arabia). Also second in the Dubai Turf. He’s come back and had two wins.
“The plan is always made by the owner, Peter. He has wisdom, we all trust him. If he says, ‘Danny, go to Saudi Arabia’, I’ll go to Saudi Arabia. If he says, ‘Danny stay in Hong Kong’, I’ll stay in Hong Kong. We’re a good team, I trust Peter a lot.”
