Romantic Warrior, Ka Ying Rising Triumph in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's superstars, Romantic Warrior (IRE) and Ka Ying Rising (NZ), showed they're more than ready for any foreign challenge in December's big races with dominating victories Nov. 23 in their prep races at Sha Tin Racecourse. And upstart Galaxy Patch (AUS) jumped up in the day's third feature to plug what otherwise might be a weak spot in the local lineup in the Dec. 14 Hong Kong Mile (G1). The day was about the big guns. Romantic Warrior shrugged off two heartbreaking second-place finishes in the Middle East, a minor surgery, and a 232-day layoff to win the Jockey Club Cup (G2) with panache over would-be rival for local primacy, Voyage Bubble (AUS). After a patient ride by regular jockey James McDonald, the 7-year-old cranked it up around the stretch turn, hit the front inside the 300-meter mark, and wasn't challenged. He finished the 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) in 2:03.72 without being asked for his best. Trainer Danny Shum had been confident Romantic Warrior's year-long travails were behind him without lasting effects and, after proving that, can now look toward his shot at a fourth straight win in the Hong Kong Cup (G1) Dec. 14. The 7-year-old is the world's all-time money-earner with HK$217.7 million (about US$28 million) now in the bank, by Hong Kong Jockey Club calculations. That figure would be significantly higher had he not finished second by a neck to Forever Young (JPN) in February's $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) and second to Soul Rush (JPN) in April in the Dubai Turf (G1). His connections have run out of superlatives. "He's so special," McDonald said. "It takes the words out of my mouth, to be fair. It's an absolute privilege to ride him and every time he goes around there's a huge smile on the face. He's really touching, that horse." Shum added: "He's a superstar. He's got talent and is smart. He didn't look 7 years old. Even when he turns 8, he will think he's still a baby." And Shum had more bad news for his Dec. 14 rivals. "If you really want me to put a figure on it, I will say he was 85% (fit). After this race, he will put on another 10 or 12 pounds," Shum said. Ka Ying Rising Dominates Rivals in Jockey Club Sprint Meanwhile, good luck to any international raiders who think they can put a beat on Ka Ying Rising. The world's top-rated sprinter, last seen winning the world's richest grass race, The Everest (G1) in Australia, came home stronger than ever to win the Jockey Club Sprint (G2) basically for fun. With Zac Purton along for the ride, Ka Ying Rising waited patiently behind one rival, advanced without hesitation early in the stretch run, and won by 2 3/4 lengths. He finished the 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs) in 1:07.33, mercifully geared down through the last 50 meters. It was his 15th straight win, a string that includes last year's Hong Kong Sprint (G1). "It was good to see him win like that today without having to go to the bottom of him," Purton said. "So it's a nice confidence-boosting win as he comes back. I've never seen him look so good. We were hoping he was going to do that, and it's good for him to back up what we were thinking." Trainer David Hayes called it "just a dream come true to have a horse like this. … He'll be set for The Everest now again (in 2026) and, of course, we've got the big international race in three weeks, which is his short-term grand finale, so it's all very exciting." Galaxy Patch Ends Losing Streak in Jockey Club Mile The third feature on the program, the Jockey Club Mile (G2), was by far the most wide-open with Voyage Bubble exiting the mile ranks to challenge Romantic Warrior at the longer distance of the Cup. A newcomer to the elite roster, My Wish (AUS), was made favorite after two season-opening wins but it was veteran Galaxy Patch, winless in seven starts stretching back more than a year, who seized the opportunity, thanks to a patient ride by McDonald. Galaxy Patch settled near the back of the Mile field and was shuffled back to next to last late on the backstretch, but McDonald committed the 6-year-old to a rail trip and found that lane wide open. He surged through with a sustained run, found the front, and held off the cavalry. Sunlight Power (AUS), with Hollie Doyle up, was second, Happy Together (IRE) third, and My Wish fourth. "He did really well," said McDonald, riding on a temporary license. "He got a bit of a check at the 800 (meter mark), and he regathered himself and came with a good surge." The all-long shot finish could leave a rare opportunity for international raiders in the Hong Kong Mile. That race has been dominated in recent years by local runners, thanks largely to the three wins by Golden Sixty (AUS). Voyage Bubble won last year, defeating Japan's Soul Rush, who finished sixth in the Mile Championship (G1) in Tokyo almost simultaneously with the Jockey Club Mile. McDonald, who rode Voyage Bubble last December, has been booked to partner Galaxy Patch Dec. 14 and called the Jockey Club effort "a nice confidence-boosting win heading into December and we'll see how we go." Trainer Pierre Ng said he has wanted McDonald on his horse for a long time. "We waited for long for him. He was busy last season with Voyage Bubble. So this season we waited for him," Ng said. "It was the first time he rode him in a race. He won it. We're looking forward to the next one." The opposition for that race could include both Soul Rush and Jantar Mantar (JPN), whose victory in the Mile Championship puts him atop the ranks of Japan's milers.