Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior retired due to leg injury

Romantic Warrior has been retired after failing to recover from a leg injury, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has announced.

The eight-year-old won more than £28million in prize-money and triumphed in 24 of his 31 career starts, with 15 of those victories coming at the highest level.

Danny Shum’s stable star won all four of his races this year, with his final victory coming in the Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin in May, a win that saw the Acclamation gelding become just the third winner of the Hong Kong Triple Crown.

Vets had been monitoring one of Romantic Warrior’s front legs and Shum and owner Peter Lau Pak Fai made the call to bring an end to his remarkable career.

A statement from the Hong Kong Jockey Club said: “Romantic Warrior’s connections, in consultation with the Club’s veterinarians, have decided to retire Romantic Warrior from racing following further detailed diagnostic imaging and assessment of his front leg at the Club’s state-of-the-art veterinary hospital.

“Romantic Warrior will spend the next three months at Conghua Racecourse under the continued monitoring of the Club’s veterinarians before being transitioned to his retirement home with the assistance of the Club’s RESTART Racehorse Aftercare Programme, which involves a holistic approach to horse aftercare following the completion of racing careers.

“The Club will arrange a farewell ceremony for Romantic Warrior at a Sha Tin Raceday later this season.”

Romantic Warrior’s career highlights included victory in the 2023 Cox Plate when travelling to Australia, while he finished a neck second to Japanese star Forever Young after an epic duel up the straight in the 2025 Saudi Cup.