Romantic Warrior poised for history making three-peat in Hong Kong Cup
James McDonald boasts an enviable book of rides at Sha Tin on Sunday spearheaded by Romantic Warrior who gets his chance to make history in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup.
McDonald has nine rides in the ten-race program with the most highly anticipated of those Romantic Warrior who on Thursday drew barrier 1 for the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m).
Romantic Warrior is looking to become the first horse to claim three consecutive Hong Kong Cups, currently sitting alongside California Memory as the only pair to have won consecutive renewals of the prestigious event.
In an ominous warning for rivals, James McDonald suggested the eight-time Group 1 winner is heading into Sunday’s Hong Kong Cup renewal in better order than last year where he won an enthralling finish over Luxembourg.
“He’s in superb form and he’s going to be awfully hard to beat,” McDonald said.
“He’s probably peaking up better than he did last year for the same race so we’re looking forward to Sunday.”
McDonald and Romantic Warrior have developed a formidable combination, winning nine of their ten starts in partnership.
A tenth victory together on Sunday would see the anticipated capacity crowd at Sha Tin erupt for a horse McDonald holds dear.
“Hopefully he can make it three Hong Kong Cups,” McDonald said.
“It would be really fitting if he could go down as one of probably the best Hong Kong horses to ever race this Sha Tin turf.
“He’s been very good to us. I just really enjoy riding him.
“He’s the most push-button horse I’ve had much to do with. He’s just the perfect racehorse.
“He’s got gate speed, sustained speed. It doesn’t matter whether it’s wet, dry, fast tempo, slow tempo. He’s pretty much unflappable over the mile and a quarter.
“It’s going to be no easy task. The Japanese (Tastiera, Liberty Island) are coming here in strong force, so we need the right run, but he’s the right horse to do it on.”
McDonald’s other main chance to claim Group 1 success at Sha Tin on Sunday is Voyage Bubble in the Hong Kong Mile.
The pair enter the event after combining for victory in the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on November 17.
“I’d expect him to be competitive for sure because he’s a very consistent horse,” McDonald said.
“His lead-up run was great, he’ll improve off that as well. He’s a horse that makes his own luck up on speed and I’m sure he’ll give a great sight even though it’s again, a strong race as you’d expect.
“He ran second in this race last year and he’s going every bit as good as that. He’s definitely in the race.”
Sunday is expected to be a winning one for McDonald who also heaped praise on his rides throughout the supporting races on the program including Run Run Timing (Race 1), Divano (Race 3), Family Jewel (Race 6), and Charming Legend (Race 9).
“I’m looking forward to Sunday,” McDonald said.
“Even my undercard races are really strong. They’re all really, really good hopes so I’d expect them all to be fighting out the finish because they’re going that well.
“Zac (Purton) might not start favourite in the jockey’s challenge for once”.
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