And upstart Galaxy patch jumped up in the third feature of the day to plug into what could otherwise be a weak spot in the local line-up at the December 14 Hong Kong Mile (G1).
The day was about the big guns.
Romantic Warrior ignored two heartbreaking second places in the Middle East, minor surgery and a 232-day layoff to win the Jockey Club Cup (G2) with panache over potential rival for local primacy, Travel bell.
After a patient ride by regular jockey James McDonald, the 7-year-old turned up the turn, hit the front inside 300 meters and was not challenged. He covered the 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) in 2:03.72 without being asked to do his best.
Trainer Danny Shum was confident that Romantic Warrior’s years of trials were behind him with no lasting consequences and, having proven that, he can now look forward to his chance for a fourth straight victory in the Hong Kong Cup (G1) on December 14.
The seven-year-old is the world’s all-time money earner with HK$217.7 million (about US$28 million) now in the bank, according to calculations by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. That figure would have been significantly higher had he not finished second by a neck Forever young in February’s $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) and second Soul rush in April at the Dubai Turf (G1).
His connections lack superlatives.
“He’s so special,” McDonald said. “It takes the words right out of my mouth, to be honest. It’s an absolute privilege to ride him and every time he walks around there’s a big smile on his face. He’s really moving, that horse.”
Shum added: “He’s a superstar. He’s talented and smart. He didn’t look seven years old. Even when he turns eight, he’ll think he’s still a baby.”
And Shum had more bad news for his rivals on December 14.
“If you really want me to put a number on it, I’ll say he was 85% (fit). After this race, he’ll gain another 10 or 12 pounds,” Shum said.
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Ka Ying Rising dominates rivals in Jockey Club Sprint
In the meantime, good luck to all the international raiders who think they can defeat Ka Ying Rising. The world’s highest-rated sprinter, who last won 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.
Ka Ying Rising wins the Jockey Club Sprint at Sha Tin Racecourse
With Zac Purton along for the ride, Ka Ying Rising waited patiently behind a rival, advancing without hesitation early in the stretch run and winning by 2 3/4 lengths. He covered the 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs) in 1:07.33, graciously downshifting the last 50 meters.
It was his 15th victory in a row, a series that also includes last year’s Hong Kong Sprint (G1).
“It was good to see him win like that today without having to push himself to the limit,” Purton said. “So it’s a nice win that builds confidence when he comes back. I’ve never seen him so good. We were hoping he would do that, and it’s good for him to back up what we thought.”
Trainer David Hayes called it “just a dream come true to have a horse like this… He will now be ready for Everest again (in 2026) and of course we have the big international race in three weeks, his grand final at short notice, so it’s all very exciting.”
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Galaxy patch ends losing streak in Jockey Club Mile
The third event on the programme, the Jockey Club Mile (G2), was by far the most open, with Voyage Bubble leaving the mile ranks to challenge Romantic Warrior in the longer distance of the Cup. A newcomer to the elite selection, My wishwas favorite after two wins at the season opener, but it was veteran Galaxy Patch, winless in seven starts going back more than a year, who seized the opportunity, thanks to a patient drive from McDonald.
Galaxy Patch wins the Jockey Club Mile at Sha Tin Racecourse
Galaxy Patch settled at the back of the Mile field and was shuffled back to the penultimate late on the backstretch, but McDonald took the 6-year-old on a train ride and found that lane wide open. However, he made a sustained flight, found the front and kept the cavalry at bay. Sun powerwith Hollie Doyle in the lead, came second, Happy together third, and My Wish fourth.
“He did very well,” said McDonald, driving on a temporary license. “He got a little check in the 800 (meters), and he regrouped and came up with a good surge.”
The all-long shot finish could provide a rare opportunity for international holdouts in the Hong Kong Mile. That race has been dominated by local runners in recent years, thanks in large part to the three victories of Golden Sixty. Voyage Bubble won last year, beating 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, is booked with partner Galaxy Patch on December 14 and called the Jockey Club’s effort “a nice, confidence-boosting win heading into December and we’ll see how it goes.”
Trainer Pierre Ng said he had wanted McDonald on his horse for a long time.
“We have been waiting for him for a long time. Last season he was doing Voyage Bubble. So this season we have been waiting for him,” Ng said. “It was the first time he rode it in a race. He won that one. We’re looking forward to the next one.”
The opposition for that race could include both Soul Rush and Jantar Mantar whose victory in the Mile Championship puts him at the top of the ranks of Japanese milers.
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