ENGLISH TEXTS
would have had to win four races a day to catch him . That ’ s impossible . Even for Zac .
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DATA
RACING
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By Bruno Barbereau
ROMANTIC WARRIOR : THE HORSE OF ALL RECORDS
From his first steps on the tracks of Hong Kong to his rise to the pinnacle of global racing , Romantic Warrior has made history with impressive strides and record-breaking performances . In the era of data-tracking , where every fraction of a second counts , this gelding trained by C . S . Shum has established himself as a precision machine , combining power , endurance and pure speed . A look back at the career of a champion who has redefined the standards of the racing world .
A bold investment turned jackpot Bred from the cross between Acclamation and Folk Melody , Romantic Warrior was no more destined than any other to a legendary career .
Yet , from Tattersalls ’ yearling sales in 2019 , his action and his physique impressed . Purchased for 300,000 guineas , he then joined the Hong Kong International Sale in 2021 , where he was resold for HK $ 4.8 million . An investment that might have seemed risky … but that turned into a goldmine . With over US $ 26 million in winnings , Romantic Warrior has become a legend and one of the most profitable horses in the history of Hong Kong racing .
Explosive debut : speed and precocity From his first competitive gallops , Romantic Warrior showed raw talent . He made his debut in October 2021 over 1,200 meters at Happy Valley , winning outright in 69.48 seconds . A performance all the more impressive as no three-year-old has since managed to do better over that distance and at that track in Hong Kong . He confirmed Ciaron Maher ’ s adage , as reported by Romane Borrione : “ A horse must be good on short to be good on long ” - in other words , a good racehorse must possess speed regardless of its preferred distance . This victory was no flash in the pan . A month later , he doubled the stakes , further improving his ratings : his Hong Kong Rating ( HKR ) jumped from 52 to 60 , while his Racing Post Rating ( RPR ) climbed to 73 . Specialists then began comparing him to the top local juveniles .
The rise to elite status Romantic Warrior soon proved himself at the highest level . In December 2021 , he took part in his first race at Sha Tin , Hong Kong ’ s premier racecourse . He won a Class 3 race over 1,200 metres in 69 seconds with a Speed Rating ( SR ) of 88 . This figure is telling : any rating above 85 signifies elite performance over the distance . But that was only the beginning . In April 2022 , the gelding contested his first Group 1 race over 2,000 meters at Sha Tin . He crossed the finish line in 120.13 seconds , recording an HKR of 102 and an RPR of 120 . Confirmation came in December of the same year , when he dominated the Longines Hong Kong Cup . That day , he posted his career-best performance with a final time of 119.70 seconds , an RPR of 129 and an SR of 106 . For the record , a Speed Rating over 100 signifies absolute excellence .
Conquering on the International Stage While Romantic Warrior dominates on his home turf , he has also proven that he can shine on the global stage . In October 2023 , he achieved a resounding feat by winning the Gr . 1 Cox Plate in Australia over 2,040 metres in 123.16 seconds . This victory confirmed his incredible adaptability . In June 2024 , he further cemented his reputation by claiming the prestigious Gr . 1 Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo over
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