Romantic Warrior Wins Fourth FWD QEII Cup as Ka Ying Rising Extends Winning Streak at Sha Tin

Romantic Warrior secured his fourth FWD QEII Cup victory at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, 26 April 2026, cementing his status as one of Hong Kong’s most accomplished racehorses.

The eight-year-old Acclamation gelding, trained by Danny Shum and ridden by James McDonald, won the HK$30 million Group One race over 2000 metres by a length from Masquerade Ball, with Sosie finishing third. The victory took Romantic Warrior’s career prize money above HK$271.46 million (approximately £27 million) and improved his record to 23 wins and five minor placings from 30 starts.

Romantic Warrior’s Historic Fourth QEII Cup Win

Romantic Warrior claimed his fourth FWD QEII Cup victory at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, 26 April 2026, reinforcing his standing as one of Hong Kong’s most accomplished racehorses. The eight-year-old Acclamation gelding, trained by Danny Shum and ridden by James McDonald, won the HK$30 million Group One race over 2000 metres by a length from Masquerade Ball, with Sosie finishing third.

The victory took Romantic Warrior’s career prize money above HK$271.46 million (approximately £27 million) and improved his record to 23 wins and five minor placings from 30 starts. He has now won 14 of 15 starts over 2000m at Sha Tin, including a record four Group One Hong Kong Cup titles and one Hong Kong Derby.

James McDonald hailed Romantic Warrior as “bullet proof” after the race, stating: “It’s just an honour to be riding a horse like him. It makes a jockey’s life so easy. He makes things happen which other horses don’t and that’s why he has got the record that he has got.”

Ka Ying Rising Extends Winning Streak to 20

On the same card, Ka Ying Rising extended his winning streak to 20 victories in a row with a facile success in the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize. Ridden by Zac Purton and trained by David Hayes, the five-year-old broke his own track record at Sha Tin, coming home four and a quarter lengths clear of his rivals.

Zac Purton said after the win: “It was pretty painless. His speed was nice, he was in a good rhythm, and it was just a matter of him turning up and doing what he has all season, and he did that. It was nice to break the track record again, albeit just slightly. When I let him go he quickened, but he did take a couple of strides to balance up a little, but once he quickened, he quickened extremely well and a long way out he felt very comfortable and very confident.”

Trainer Reflections on Two Champions

Danny Shum, trainer of Romantic Warrior, praised the unique bond between jockey and horse: “He’s (McDonald) the number one jockey in the world. He loves Romantic Warrior and Romantic Warrior loves him. I’m thankful I have Romantic Warrior, and Romantic Warrior is also thankful for me. My team has done a lot of hard work with him. He’s been in good form this season – it (2000m) is his best distance in Hong Kong. I was quite confident he could win this.”

Shum added: “I don’t tell him he’s eight years old, I always keep telling him he’s five only – that is a joke, but he races very easily and he’s very good. He’s a super, super champion.”

David Hayes, trainer of Ka Ying Rising, reflected on his charge’s status: “I definitely think he’s the best horse I’ve trained but now I’m really starting to think he’s one of the best I’ve seen. I’m a massive Black Caviar fan, and I never thought you could even say it, but I think he’s up there in that legendary status.”

Hayes confirmed plans to aim Ka Ying Rising at retaining The Everest in Australia later in the year, while not ruling out a potential bid for Royal Ascot in 2027: “We shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves, but we’re definitely doing The Everest again – it was the experience of a lifetime. Royal Ascot, for me to train a winner there would be wonderful – it’s one of the great carnivals. If it’s right, it’s possible, because he’s done it all here now and I’d just like to showcase him around the world maybe as a six or seven-year-old.”

Commercial Success of FWD Champions Day

Turnover on the Chairman’s Sprint Prize was colossal, with nearly HK$196 million (approximately £18.5 million) staked in all pools on the race, with Ka Ying Rising returning at a price of 1.05 on the UK Tote.

Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges expressed delight with the success of FWD Champions Day, both from a sporting and commercial perspective: “Turnover up 18.3 percent on last year and commingling turnover 16.5 percent up.”