Romantic Warrior to stay home

Romantic Warrior, the 2023 Cox Plate champion and four-time Hong Kong Cup winner, will remain in Hong Kong for the 2026 season, with trainer Danny Shum confirming plans to pursue the prestigious Hong Kong Triple Crown instead of returning to the Middle East.

Shum’s star galloper will bypass the lucrative Saudi and Dubai circuits in favour of a local campaign, confirming with racing.com the 8-year-old will next race in the Group 1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) at Sha Tin on January 25. He will then aim for the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) and G1 Champions & Chater Cup (2400m).

Speculation had mounted as recently as Hong Kong International Races week that Romantic Warrior would head back to Saudi Arabia for a rematch with Japanese dirt superstar Forever Young in the world’s richest race, the Saudi Cup.

But Shum has opted for a more traditional route, setting up a domestic showdown with dual Hong Kong Mile winner and reigning Triple Crown hero Voyage Bubble.

Shum told racing.com Romantic Warrior’s next race will be the Steward’s Cup.