Hugh Bowman gave Romantic Warrior the tick of approval this morning (Tuesday, 14 April) as Danny Shum’s galloper continues his preparation for the HK$30 million (approx. £2.8m) G1 FWD QEII Cup (1m2f/2000m) on FWD Champions Day (Sunday, 26 April) at Sha Tin.
Aiming to secure a record-extending fourth FWD QEII Cup after wins in 2022, 2023 and 2024, Romantic Warrior finished an untested second in a barrier trial over 1600m on Sha Tin’s turf under Bowman today in 1m 36.13s behind Numbers with Rubylot third.
“He was great. He went through his paces, and he was nice and relaxed. He can have a tendency sometimes to be a bit fresh and overdo it, but he was really relaxed, so that’s very encouraging for the team going into the main event,” Bowman said.
“He went to the line really well and he had a good blow to finish him off from a fitness perspective.”
One of Hong Kong racing’s principal flagbearers in recent years with 13 Group 1 wins in Hong Kong, Australia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates, Romantic Warrior also boasts world-record earnings of HK$254.66 million.
A figure he will aim to boost against some of the toughest FWD QEII Cup opposition he will have faced, including international Group 1 winners Masquerade Ball, Royal Champion and Sosie.
James McDonald rides Romantic Warrior in the FWD QEII Cup, while Bowman – who won 25 Group 1 races atop Australian champion Winx – is aboard My Wish when the in-form galloper takes his shot at the HK$24 million (approx. £2.3m) G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m).
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Bowman said: “He’s going well. I thought his run was excellent in the recent Group 2 race. I think he’s really going to peak at the right time.
“The barrier draw will be crucial as to where we end up in the run, but I don’t think he has to improve to win the race on what he did last start. He’s just going to need the circumstances of the race to suit him.”
My Wish missed by a short head to Lucky Sweynesse in the G2 Chairman’s Trophy on 6 April. The five-year-old became a Group 2 winner earlier this season when he won the Sha Tin Trophy Handicap.
Six-time Group 1 placegetter Helios Express lines up in the HK$24 million (approx. £2.3m) G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (6f/1200m) under Australian Bowman.
Bowman said: “He’s such a consistent horse and a pleasure to ride. He has to take on Ka Ying Rising as always but it’s going to be an interesting race with Satono Reve coming.
“I think that adds some spice to the event. We all know Helios Express and his pattern, and again, barriers will determine where we settle. His lead-up run was excellent.”
Hong Kong racing continues on Wednesday (15 April) with a nine-race fixture from Happy Valley.
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