Romantic Warrior (Ire)

Hong Kong's Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) earned a career high Timeform rating of 129 following his third victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup on Sunday, Timeform announced on Tuesday. He is rated second only to Australian multiple Group 1 winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who carries a mark of 132, among active horses in training. Other horses rated 129 include G1 Dubai World Cup hero Laurel River (Into Mischief), Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint winner Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress...

A total of 69,916 racegoers flooded Sha Tin, with Happy Valley drawing an additional 10,775, to bring the total attendees for the Longines Hong Kong International Races to 80,691. It is the highest attendance number since 2018. "I personally think it was one of the best, if not the best, Longines Hong Kong International Races and an incredible week," said the HKJC's chief executive officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. "Starting with the Longines International Jockeys' Championship, it was an amazing success. Today, we hoped to create a highlight and I personally think...

Andrew Balding has given a positive update on his G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup entry The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), who is set to face Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) on Sunday. He won a listed race at Newcastle over Group 1 winner Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) last month and galloped at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning. "He's got a fair bit to find with Romantic Warrior but I think we are certainly in the mix with the others," said Balding. "He has come...

Regular rider James McDonald has issued a positive bulletin on Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) ahead of his bid for a historic third consecutive win in the HK$40 million G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday, December 8. California Memory (Highest Honor {Fr}) is the only other dual winner of the Hong Kong Cup in 2011 and 2012, which means Romantic Warrior would be out on his own as the most successful horse in the race's history should he repeat his 2022 and 2023 triumphs at the...

The catalogues for Books 2-4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale are now available online. Book 2 comprises 773 yearlings and takes place from October 14-16, while 571 lots are scheduled to go under the hammer from October 17-18 when Book 3 takes centre stage. Book 4 has a further 81 yearlings also selling on Friday, October 18, immediately following the conclusion of Book 3. Recent graduates of Book 2 include a number of Group 1 winners this year, headed by the Queen Anne Stakes scorer Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel...

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) reported record commingling turnover of HK$28.8 billion as the 2023/24 season concluded at Sha Tin on Sunday, with 26 countries and more than 70 partners now commingling on Hong Kong racing. That total represented a 13.7% increase on the 2022/23 season, while overall turnover on simulcasting for the season was also up by 8.7% to HK$12.8 billion as Hong Kong continued to offer wagering on the very best of world racing through the World Pool. This year the number of World Pool races increased from...

Following his impressive victory in the G1 Derby, City Of Troy (Justify) now sits alongside Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in joint-second position after the fourth edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2024 were released on Thursday. City Of Troy earned his rating of 123 when defeating Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) by two and three-quarter lengths at Epsom, fully confirming the promise he showed when unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old. G1 Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River (Into Mischief) still tops the rankings with...

Edited Press Release Now sitting atop the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings on 121, National Treasure (Quality Road) and Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) both began their 2024 campaigns in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. in January, which saw the former defeat Senor Buscador by a neck. Following that effort, they both travelled to the Middle East to compete in the G1 Saudi Cup. Senor Buscador raced in the back of the field before rallying to defeat Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) by a head, who was weighted on 120...

Dual Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) has been given a mark of 125 to top the latest version of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings. The gelding ran out a one-length winner of the G1 Stewards' Cup, defeating Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) (123), with California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) (122) in third. Golden Sixty then padded his record with a head tally over Romantic Warrior in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup. GI Pegasus World Cup hero Art Collector (Bernardini) has been...