Hong Kong's "Big Three" face off for the first time Jan. 29 in the Stewards' Cup (G1) at Sha Tin Racecourse, putting a collective nine group 1 victories and Hong Kong's three highest ratings on the line. The Stewards' Cup carries a purse of HK$12 million (US$1.53 million).
California Spangle and reigning Hong Kong champion Golden Sixty finished 1-2 in the Hong Kong Mile (G1) in December. Romantic Warrior won the Hong Kong Cup (G1) on that same memorable program.
"This is the first time I've ever been involved in a race like this and I'm really excited," said Romantic Warrior's trainer, Danny Shum, who has been involved in plenty of big ones. "It's a world-class race. I don't think it's a race just for the Hong Kong followers. It's a global race. In the last 30 years, this is the most exciting race."
The numbers bear that out. All three are rated well up among turf runners on the Longines World's Best Racehorse standings despite having raced exclusively in Hong Kong.
There's a bit of a grudge element involved, too.
Romantic Warrior has lost only once against nine wins, finishing fourth behind California Spangle in the Hong Kong Classic Cup 11 months ago, so they have some unfinished business. California Spangle was second behind Golden Sixty their two face-to-face meetings before turning the tables in last month's Mile. So the former has to prove he can do it again while the champ looks to regain supremacy.
California Spangle typically races on the lead, while the other two are more stalk-and-pounce types. If that form holds in this seven-horse field, it should be quite a finish.
There's an age disparity to consider, too.
Jockey Vincent Ho said he's confident 7-year-old Golden Sixty can rebound from his December defeat while taking on the 5-year-old rivals.
"They're 5 and they're young. They should be at their prime, those two horses, but we're mentally more mature and we have all of the experience and physically he has still got it there. I believe we can do it," Ho said.
Trainer Francis Lui concurred but with more of a wary eye toward the competition.
"Romantic Warrior is also a good horse, I tell you. I think he's a champion," Lui said. "It's a good race. I think California Spangle will do the same and Romantic Warrior comes back from 2,000 meters to 1,600 meters. It's a small field. I think my horse will do the same as before, jump out and relax him. It's not necessary for us to change anything."
If that three-horse battle isn't enough to whet the appetite, note there are three other group 1 winners in the field, too—Waikuku, Russian Emperor, and Panfield.
Sunday's program also has the Hong Kong Classic Mile, the 1,600-meter (about a mile) first leg of the 4-Year-Old Classic Series that culminates in the Hong Kong Derby. The highest-rated in the field are Cordyceps Six and Keefy, though neither has been setting the stage ablaze.
The Derby itself is the most coveted prize of the season for local owners, both for the purse money and for bragging rights. The illustrious list of winners includes both Golden Sixty and Romantic Warrior. The latter nipped heavily favored California Spangle by a head in the 2022 renewal.
