Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior underwent surgery on Wednesday to insert a screw into his left foreleg after the world’s highest earner was diagnosed with a fetlock injury following a gruelling Middle East campaign.
Trainer Danny Shum and owner Peter Lau opted for the routine surgery after a detailed examination upon his return to Hong Kong uncovered what was described as “some potential changes in one of the horse’s joints” by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).
“The procedure followed a computerised tomography (CT) examination and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination of his forelimbs performed on 16 May, 2025 as part of a proactive health-screening process in accordance with the Club’s systematic procedures for ensuring the welfare of our racehorses,” the HKJC said in a statement. “No lameness or other clinical signs were present prior to the screening examinations.”
Box rest without surgery was also an option, but surgery was considered the best course of action to stabilise the affected joint and help him return to the races sooner. No timeline was provided on a return to racing for Romantic Warrior and although the surgery sounds extreme, it is a relatively commonplace procedure.
“Management options were discussed by the Club’s expert veterinarians and Romantic Warrior’s owner and trainer, and a decision was made for the horse to undergo a veterinary procedure at the Club’s Equine Hospital in which a single screw was inserted under standing sedation and local anaesthesia,” the HKJC statement said, adding that the procedure was performed “without complication”.
Romantic Warrior, now seven, is already the highest prize money earner in racing history with more than HK$214.7 million, and won one from three in an audacious campaign earlier this year that finished with heartbreaking seconds in the G1 Saudi Cup and G1 Dubai Turf.
The horse was due to parade in front of racing fans at Sha Tin on May 25 in a special “Welcome Home, Our Global Champion” ceremony but it was called off due to the horse’s injury.
Romantic Warrior has not been on the training track and has been confined to swimming since May 18. The Hong Kong Jockey Club veterinary records were updated in recent days to show a left fore fetlock injury on May 21.
The Club added that, following surgery, “Romantic Warrior returned to his stable where he will be closely monitored by Club veterinarians and stable personnel, supported by the world-class rehabilitation services that the Club has developed.”
Trainer Danny Shum was tight-lipped about Romantic Warrior’s situation when asked for comment at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, but he told Idol Horse on May 19 that he would be “careful” in the horse’s next campaign.
“Going back to Saudi could happen, or he could go to Dubai as well like this season,” Shum said. “He’ll be an eight-year-old next year so we’ll really have to be careful and judge it race by race.” ∎
