FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup |
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| Group 1, Sha Tin 9:55 HK$30 million 1m 2f  |
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1 Romantic Warrior 30/100F
2 Masquerade Ball 23/5
3 Sosie 36/5
8 ran Distances: 1l, ½l, 1¼l
Time: 2m 0.64s (fast by 0.86s)
ROMANTIC WARRIOR lands a 4th FWD QEII Cup! 🏆
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 26, 2026
The world's richest racehorse proves too hot to handle at Sha Tin! 💥#HKRacing | #FWDChampionsDay | @HKJC_Racing | @mcacajamez pic.twitter.com/8fyFJc8uVV
Romantic Warrior once again underlined his standing among the elite of the global turf, producing a performance of sustained excellence to claim a fourth victory in the race and a remarkable 14th Group 1 success.
The eight-year-old, trained by Danny Shum, was returning to a contest he has made his own, having previously triumphed in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and his latest success further embellished an already glittering record that includes four Hong Kong Cup victories over the same course and distance.
Facing an international field featuring challengers from Japan, France and Britain, Romantic Warrior was once more equal to the task. Masquerade Ball emerged as his nearest pursuer, finishing strongly from the rear, but James McDonald always appeared to have matters in hand aboard the winner.
A length separated the pair at the line, with Sosie a further half-length away in third and Royal Champion, representing Karl Burke, another half-length back in fourth after racing prominently in the early stages under Oisin Murphy before being unable to match the decisive turn of foot.
McDonald said: “It was touted to be his toughest test. I’ve got to pay Danny and his team so much admiration for how he’s got this horse ready.
“He’s just a dream come true; he’s literally a dream come true for us. I’m the lucky one to be riding him, and Danny’s the lucky one to be training him. Just anything you have to do with this horse, it’s what dreams are made of.
“He’s got plenty of life in his legs yet! An absolute privilege.”
Christophe Lemaire, rider of runner-up Masquerade Ball, said: “It was a close one.
“The pace wasn’t that strong, but he showed a great turn of foot in the last 200 to 300 metres. I think he’ll keep improving going forward.”
Oisin Murphy added of Royal Champion: “Big run, obviously hot field. He did everything nicely. Proud of him.”
FWD QEII Cup (Group 1)
2000m - Sha Tin - Turf
HK$30 million
8 ran
Going: Good
Past Results
Age: 5
Trainer: Noriyuki Hori (Japan)
Jockey: Damian Lane
Owner: Carrot Farm Co Ltd
Age: 6
Trainer: Danny Shum (Hong Kong)
Jockey: James McDonald
Owner: Peter Lau Pak Fai
Age: 5
Trainer: Danny Shum (Hong Kong)
Jockey: James McDonald
Owner: Peter Lau Pak Fai
Age: 4
Trainer: Danny Shum (Hong Kong)
Jockey: Karis Teetan
Owner: Peter Lau Pak Fai
Age: 5
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi (Japan)
Jockey: Vincent Ho Chak-yiu
Owner: DMM Dream Club
Age: 6
Trainer: Tony Cruz (Hong Kong)
Jockey: Zac Purton
Owner: Eddie Wong Ming Chak & Wong Leung Sau Hing
Age: 5
Trainer: Yoshihiro Hatakeyama (Japan)
Jockey: Masami Matsuoka
Owner: Win Co Ltd
Age: 5
Trainer: Tony Cruz (Hong Kong)
Jockey: William Buick
Owner: Kerm Din
Age: 6
Trainer: Noriyuki Hori (Japan)
Jockey: João Moreira
Owner: U Carrot Farm
Age: 4
Trainer: John Moore (Hong Kong)
Jockey: Hugh Bowman
Owner: Johnson Chen
Age: 6
Trainer: Tony Cruz (Hong Kong)
Jockey: Neil Callan
Owner: Fentons Racing Syndicate
Age: 4
Trainer: John Moore (Hong Kong)
Jockey: Tommy Berry
Owner: Cheng Keung Fai
Age: 5
Trainer: John Moore (Hong Kong)
Jockey: Tommy Berry
Owner: Mr & Mrs Steven Lo Kit Sing
Age: 5
Trainer: Katsuhiko Sumii (Japan)
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Owner: Sunday Racing Co Ltd
Age: 4
Trainer: Tony Millard (Hong Kong)
Jockey: Douglas Whyte
Owner: Lam Pui Hung
Age: 8
Trainer: John Moore (Hong Kong)
Jockey: Weichong Marwing
Owner: Stanley Ho Hung-Sun
Age: 5
Trainer: Luca Cumani (Great Britain)
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Owner: Leonidas Marinopoulos
Age: 4
Trainer: Mike de Kock (South Africa)
Jockey: Kevin Shea
Owner: Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum
Age: 5
Trainer: John Moore (Hong Kong)
Jockey: Michael Kinane
Owner: Stanley Ho Hung-Sun
Age: 5
Trainer: Mike de Kock (South Africa)
Jockey: Weichong Marwing
Owner: Team Valor
Age: 4
Trainer: David Ferraris (Hong Kong)
Jockey: Anthony Delpech
Owner: Chow Nam & R. G. Chow Hon Man
Age: 5
Trainer: John Size (Hong Kong)
Jockey: Glyn Schofield
Owner: Ronald Arculli
Age: 6
Trainer: Shuji Kitahashi (Japan)
Jockey: Yuichi Fukunaga
Owner: Toyomitsu Hirai
Age: 5
Trainer: Shuji Kitahashi (Japan)
Jockey: Yuichi Fukunaga
Owner: Toyomitsu Hirai
Age: 5
Trainer: Andreas Wöhler (Germany)
Jockey: Andreas Suborics
Owner: Stiftung Gestüt Fährhof
Age: 4
Trainer: Brian Kan Ping-chee (Hong Kong)
Jockey: Alan Munro
Owner: A. Hu Si Nok & P. Wong Yau Ming
Age: 5
Trainer: François Doumen (France)
Jockey: Gerald Mosse
Owner: John D. Martin
Age: 5
Trainer: Ivan Allan (Hong Kong)
Jockey: —
Owner: Larry Yung Chi Kin
Age: 5
Trainer: Alec Laird (South Africa)
Jockey: Douglas Whyte
Owner: Laurie & Jean Jaffee
Age: 5
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor (UAE)
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Owner: Godolphin
Age: 7
Trainer: Hilal Ibrahim (UAE)
Jockey: Michael Kinane
Owner: Ali Saeed
