By Kieran McHugh
Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior will face eight rivals in his bid to become only the third horse in history to land the Hong Kong Triple Crown in the Champions and Chater Cup on Sunday, May 24 at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Romantic Warrior is the world’s highest earning racehorse, having amassed more than £25 million in prize money alongside 14 Group One victories across three different countries.
Danny Shum’s eight year old is regarded as one of Hong Kong’s most celebrated and dynamic racehorses, if not the greatest of them all.
Despite all of his achievements, he now bids to cement his place in racing history by attempting to become only the third horse to complete the Hong Kong Triple Crown.
Japanese challengers Deep Monster and Rousham Park are expected to provide the biggest threat to Romantic Warrior’s pursuit of immortality.
History beckons for Romantic Warrior
Despite claims that racing in Hong Kong is less competitive than in other parts of the world, only two horses have ever completed the feat of winning the Triple Crown.
River Verdon became the first horse to achieve it during the 1993/94 season, while Voyage Bubble followed suit last season, ending a 30 year wait.
Winning a Triple Crown is never easy in any country, but this series carries the added challenge of being open to horses aged four and older.
That also allows overseas challengers and local stars to compete together, all chasing another prestigious Group One title.
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Understanding the Hong Kong Triple Crown
As usual, the three races are spread across the season and staged over varying distances.
The opening leg is the Stewards’ Cup, contested over one mile and won by Romantic Warrior earlier this year for the first time in his career.
The second leg is the Hong Kong Gold Cup over 12 furlongs.
Romantic Warrior has won the race twice, although River Verdon remains the only horse to complete a hat trick in the contest.
The final leg is the Champions and Chater Cup, run over 14 furlongs, a distance rarely used in Hong Kong racing.
It is widely regarded as the toughest test in the series and remains the only major honour missing from Romantic Warrior’s glittering CV.
Once again, River Verdon stands as the benchmark, having won the race four times.
The final leg could prove Romantic Warrior’s greatest challenge yet, considering he has raced over the distance only once before, when he was narrowly beaten by Russian Emperor in the 2023 edition.
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One final dance?
Romantic Warrior’s influence stretches far beyond Hong Kong, turning him into a global racing icon.
He won the Yasuda Kinen in Japan in 2024 and, alongside jockey James McDonald, conquered Australia by winning the Cox Plate in 2023.
He also came agonisingly close to creating history in the Saudi Cup, narrowly losing to Forever Young in what was his first and only race on dirt.
Less than two months later, he was beaten by a nose by Soul Rush in the Dubai Turf.
Romantic Warrior has won 23 of his 30 career starts, with 14 victories coming at elite Group One level.
There is a strong possibility that this modern great could retire after his latest attempt at history, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable career.
Should he triumph on Sunday, May 24, the celebrations at Sha Tin are likely to be deafening as Hong Kong potentially says farewell to one of its greatest ever sporting heroes.
As Sha Tin commentator Mark McNamara famously said: “In name, warrior. In nature, Romantic Warrior.”
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SportJustSport writers 
Geoffrey H. Latayan