Romantic Warrior creates Hong Kong Cup history at Sha Tin

Romantic Warrior secured his place in the record books as he won an unprecedented third Longines Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin.

The six-year-old had been hailed as “the perfect racehorse” by jockey James McDonald ahead of the 10-furlong Group One and he lived up to his billing with a comfortable victory over Japanese star Liberty Island.

Aidan O’Brien’s Wingspan set the early pace with McDonald settling Romantic Warrior in fourth, moving slightly off the rail from his draw in stall one to ensure a clear passage throughout the race.

Given the signal to kick on a furlong and a half from home, the Danny Shum-trained Romantic Warrior moved up a gear and kicked away from the chasing Liberty Island, with McDonald having enough in hand to turn and hail the crowd well before the line.

McDonald said of the length-and-a-half winner: “I’m so proud of this horse. It’s been a remarkable effort by Danny and his team.

“Forget the rest, he’s the best. He’s been flying. Anyone could ride him he’s that easy, but I’m the lucky one. He’s the horse of a lifetime.”

Andrew Balding’s outsider The Foxes made a late charge to grab fourth place and a prize of over £240,000, while Spirit Dancer, O’Brien’s first string Content and Wingspan were all unplaced.

McDonald was completing a big-race double after earlier steering the Ricky Yiu-trained Voyage Bubble to victory in the Longines Hong Kong Mile.

The six-year-old travelled well throughout and seized the initiative with two furlongs to run, going to record a length-and-a-quarter win over Soul Rush and improve on his second place of last year.

McDonald said: “He’s a great horse in his own right. He felt excellent going to the gates today – he was really on the job. Credit to Ricky and his team – they’ve prepped him up beautifully.

“He just gives his all. He has a very big heart and he’s very uncomplicated.”

Harry Eustace’s Docklands and the James Ferguson-trained Ramadan finished down the field.

Local speedster Ka Ying Rising overcame a tardy start to win the Longines Hong Kong Sprint.

The four-year-old was widely expected to star in the six-furlong heat having won his last seven starts and smashed a long-standing track record on his most recent run.

However, he was slow to break for Zac Purton and rather than sprinting clear at the finish, he had to battle Helios Express and Satono Reve to secure the win.

Purton said of the David Hayes-trained winner: “Something lunged at the gate just before he went and it took his mind off it and he turned his head, so he was a little bit slow to step and then Victor The Winner just bore my neck the whole way and he never quite relaxed the way he has.

“He was working the whole way and never had time to relax. He wasn’t at his best today and is better than this but still got the job done.”

Ralph Beckett’s British raider Starlust could not add to his Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint triumph, racing on the heels of the leaders before dropping back in the straight.

Giavellotto swooped late to take Group One honours in the Longines Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin.

Trained by Marco Botti, the five-year-old is a dual Yorkshire Cup winner over 14 furlongs and was last seen when finishing third behind Kyprios in the Irish St Leger back in September.

Dropping back to a mile and a half here, Oisin Murphy got an early pitch on the rail as Japanese runner Pradaria set a steady early gallop and the challengers were stacking up behind turning for home.

As the Aidan O’Brien-trained Luxembourg and favourite Stellenbosch tried to make their runs down the outside, Murphy looked as though he could struggle for room.

However, once Murphy found space, Giavellotto responded in style and fairly sprinted home to claim a cosy success over the fast-finishing Dubai Honour, who made it a one-two for Britain.

Japanese-trained Stellenbosch kept on for third, with Luxembourg fifth on what was his final career start. His Ballydoyle stablemate Continuous never really got into the race and came home in ninth place.

Murphy said: “He had a beautiful trip round until we turned in, he relaxed great and was in a super rhythm. He got checked turning into the straight and often you don’t get going again, but how powerful was he late?

“Well done to team Marco Botti, it was a great plan coming here and they did an incredible job preparing him.”

Botti was eager to acknowledge Murphy’s role in plotting Giavellotto’s route to Hong Kong.

He said: “Credit to Oisin because first thing after the Irish St Leger, he mentioned this race and he was adamant that we should come here. We followed Oisin’s advice and it worked out well.

“Giavellotto was fresh coming into the race and it was only his sixth race of the year. We knew that, if he handled a drop back to a mile and a half on a sharper track than Newmarket – where he won in the summer- we had a chance.”

Giavellotto took home over £1.3million for first place and after turning down offers for the Mastercraftsman horse, Botti was delighted to secure such a big prize for breeder and co-owner Francesca Franchini.

He added: “The owner was very brave to resist some very good offers and most of the time they get sold and we lose the horses. Then to find the next one is not easy.

“Credit to the owner, who has a lot of faith in this horse and it has paid off. It’s just a dream come true. He was in Saudi early in the season and ran a solid race, and then went to Dubai. He’s just got better and better and he loves travelling.”

Dubai Honour was beaten two and a half lengths in second under Tom Marquand and trainer William Haggas’ wife and assistant Maureen was thrilled with his effort on quick ground.

She said: “He was just a little bit keen early and Tom wanted to get him to settle. He was well back and travelling really well turning in and you thought if he got the gaps, he was going to run a really very good race, which he did.

“The winner is a very good horse and got first run on him but he ran a hell of a race on ground that we all know is faster than he really likes, so you’ve got to be thrilled.”