Romantic Warrior made a triumphant return to racing at Sha Tin on Sunday as he sauntered to an emphatic victory in the $HK5.35 million Group 2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) for jockey James McDonald and trainer Danny Shum.<\/p>\n
Resuming after 232 days between races after surgery to his left fore fetlock, Romantic Warrior \u2013 Hong Kong, China’s global champion \u2013 lifted his world record earnings to $HK217.7 million as the Hong Kong International Sale graduate became the first horse to win a third BOCHK Jockey Club Cup after victories in 2022 and 2024.<\/p>\n
\u2022 PUNT LIKE A PRO<\/a>: Become a Racenet iQ member<\/a> and get expert tips \u2013 with fully transparent return on investment statistics \u2013 from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips<\/a> section. SUBSCRIBE NOW<\/a>!<\/p>\n “He’s so special. It takes the words out of my mouth to be fair, it’s an absolute privilege to ride him and every time he goes around there’s a huge smile on the face. He’s really touching, that horse,” McDonald said.<\/p>\n “Him (Danny) and his team just gloat over him, he’s a special horse \u2013 one of a kind. His training performance is incredible. To have him looking how he did, feeling how he did and performing how he did was a real testament to his training ability.”<\/p>\n Stepping smoothly from barrier two as a $1.40 favourite, Romantic Warrior settled fourth behind leading duo Voyage Bubble and Sword Point, while Straight Arron sat third. Turning for home, McDonald popped his mount the question, circling wide, before letting loose in the straight with an unmatched burst of speed.<\/p>\n Cruise control, Romantic Warrior! \ud83d\ude4c<\/p>\n Returning after fetlock surgery and 232 days between races, Danny Shum’s global champion secures an emphatic victory in the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup at Sha Tin\u2026 @mcacajamez<\/a> | #LoveRacing<\/a> | #HKracing<\/a>pic.twitter.com\/knfYKFxsxa<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) November 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 \u2018As easy as I’ve seen him do it’: Ka Ying Rising obliterates rivals \u2026 again<\/a><\/p>\n The Acclamation gelding’s winning time was 2m 03.72s, while the official margin was an eased down one-and-a-half lengths ahead of Voyage Bubble, who held second, while Ka Ying Generation rolled into third place. <\/p>\n Shum said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my team, especially my stable assistant and his home rider. They put a lot of effort into him and, of course, my stable vet Lawrence Chan \u2013 he’s also helped him a lot. <\/p>\n “Before the race I talked to James and we all understood that the pace would be slow, and then we said the most important thing is to relax the horse. He had a good turn of foot, we were not worried about the pace being slow.”<\/p>\n Romantic Warrior will next target a record-extending fourth consecutive $HK40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) success at 14 December’s $HK130 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f \u201cI’d like to take this opportunity to thank all my team.\u201d <\/p>\n Danny Shum talks after Romantic Warrior’s return win at Sha Tin this afternoon\u2026 \ud83c\udfc6#LoveRacing<\/a> | #HKracing<\/a>pic.twitter.com\/b0xdchYcVM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) November 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n “It’s not easy to take a horse 232 days back to a Group 2 over 2000 (metres). He’s a superstar, he’s got talent and is smart,” Shum said. “He didn’t look seven years old, even when he turns eight, he will think he’s still a baby.<\/p>\n “I will just keep him happy; he’s fit at the moment. If you really want me to put a figure on it, I will say he was 85 per cent. After this race, he will put on another 10 or 12 pounds.<\/p>\n “I’d like to thank Hugh Bowman, of course, he trials the horse a lot and teaches the horse to relax. He also helps the team and the stable a lot.”<\/p>\n Earlier, it was a McDonald masterclass as he sprang a surprise aboard Galaxy Patch to win the $HK5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m), upsetting odds-on favourite My Wish.<\/p>\n It was a first victory in 13 months for Pierre Ng-trained Galaxy Patch as McDonald, the soon-to-be-named 2025 LONGINES World’s Best Jockey, registered the second win of his latest short-term stint in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n That is an absurd ride, J-Mac! \ud83d\ude4c<\/p>\n Galaxy Patch skims the rail to success in the G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile for Pierre Ng ahead of Sunlight Power and Happy Together\u2026 @mcacajamez<\/a> | #LoveRacing<\/a> | #HKracing<\/a>pic.twitter.com\/rDYjWpBPNa<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) November 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n My Wish was slow from the gates, with only eventual winner Galaxy Patch emerging slower. But he quickly recovered and adopted a customary position \u2013 on pace and one off the rail heading to the bend.<\/p>\n The contest unfolded quickly as they entered the home straight, and a thrilling finish seemed likely with several runners manoeuvring into position to strike.<\/p>\n Luke Ferraris, aboard $1.40 favourite My Wish, cruised into a clear run before asking the two-time Group winner to quicken at the 250-metre mark. However, the response from Mark Newnham’s five-year-old was limited, and he was soon swallowed up by McDonald, who had timed a searing run on Galaxy Patch up the inside rail to perfection.<\/p>\n Hollie Doyle rode the unheralded Sunlight Power into second place for trainer Ricky Yiu, while the Frankie Lor-trained Happy Together, ridden by Alexis Badel, grabbed third, both half-a-length behind the winner. My Wish boxed on to claim fourth, a further half-length in arrears.<\/p>\n The brisk pace delivered the fastest 1600m time \u2013 1m 32.88s \u2013 of Galaxy Patch’s career and an eighth win for the six-year-old. Ng revealed the addition of blinkers was a telling factor.<\/p>\n \ud83d\ude18\ud83d\ude18 <\/p>\n Kisses and a pat from trainer Pierre Ng after Galaxy Patch’s G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile triumph\u2026 \ud83c\udfc6@mcacajamez<\/a> | #LoveRacing<\/a> | #HKracing<\/a>pic.twitter.com\/Dfsc9muFYq<\/a><\/p>\n