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A COX PLATE ROMANCE FOR THE
AGES AS
Warrior Makes History
By Ben Caluzzi
Media & Content Executive Racing
The moment Danny Shum’s Romantic Warrior crossed the line in the
2022 Hong Kong Cup, some four-and-a-half lengths clear of his nearest
rival, jockey James McDonald knew he had just partnered one of the more
special horses he had ever ridden.
That star cast featured the likes of champions
Nature Strip, It’s A Dundeel, Verry Elleegant,
and that year’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate winner
– Anamoe. But with Godolphin’s pin up colt,
Anamoe, retiring to stud early last year, the
search was on for the next contender. McDonald
other jurisdictions after having already raced.
Additionally, the record of Hong Kong trainers who
do chance their arm down under has been patchy,
which is why it came as a welcome surprise
to Australian racing fans when Danny Shum
accepted the challenge to grace our shores.
laid out the path to connections of Hong Kong’s
middle-distance star and planned a venture
Romantic Warrior’s journey was well documented
south to The Valley on the last Saturday in
as one of great difficulty. The gelding’s regular
October. As they say – the rest is history.
feed from America was initially prohibited here
in Australia, and he rejected his new batch,
The equine flight path from Hong Kong to
Australia is one sparsely ridden. Mostly, it is
the other way around. With Hong Kong not
currently operating a thoroughbred breeding
industry, due to its commercially impracticable
environment, horses are either bought from
leaving three to four pounds worth of grain in
his bin on a daily basis. Adding to that drama
was the fact jockey James McDonald had
recently broken his foot following a race fall
at Wyong and was in some doubt to be able to
partner Romantic Warrior in his first outing.
overseas sales as yearlings or bought from
MOONEE VALLEY
MOONEE
VALLEY RACING
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