Global superstar Romantic Warrior has been retired.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club confirmed the champion’s retirement on Wednesday, with connections making the decision following detailed diagnostic imaging and assessment at the Club’s veterinary hospital.
“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,” the HKJC said in a statement.
Romantic Warrior will be remembered as one of Hong Kong’s greatest horses through a series of elite performances at home and abroad by wining Group 1s across four different jurisdictions.
He won 15 Group 1s over his career and won a record four consecutive Hong Kong Cups from 2022 to 2025, becoming the only horse to do so.
In 2026 he became just the third horse to complete Hong Kong’s Triple Crown. His prize money total eclipses AU$44 million.
Locally, the 8-year-old was best known for winning the 2023 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. He was also ridden by Australian based jockey James McDonald.
According to the HKJC, Romantic Warrior will now spend three months at Conghua Racecourse, where he will remain under the supervision of HKJC veterinarians.
He will then be transitioned to a permanent retirement home with the assistance of the Club’s RESTART Racehorse Aftercare Programme.
The HKJC also confirmed Romantic Warrior will be given an official farewell at Sha Tin later this season.
