Danny Shum has said a Saudi Cup rematch with Forever Young is Romantic Warrior’s “main aim” for the campaign after Hugh Bowman confirmed Hong Kong’s superstar “feels as good as he ever has” in his latest barrier trial.
Romantic Warrior and Forever Young produced one of the greatest battles of all time at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia this year when the Japanese colt lunged late to deny Shum’s superstar in the final strides.
While it was a monumental effort for Romantic Warrior to finish within a neck of Japan’s greatest ever dirt horse – both of whom broke the previous track record – on his first start on dirt, Shum said the feeling of the agonising defeat still lingers.
“It was a huge shame,” Shum told Idol Horse after Romantic Warrior’s 1600m barrier trial on the Sha Tin turf on Tuesday morning. “But he ran a great race and absolutely, that’s the main aim.
“It would be very interesting to race him against [Forever Young] again. Forever Young is a very good horse – probably the best dirt horse in the world – but I’d love to try again. We saw that the dirt is no problem [for Romantic Warrior] – he was so far clear of third.”
Shum was feeling overwhelmingly positive on Tuesday morning as the world’s highest-earning racehorse took another step towards his return in next month’s G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin, striding out powerfully under Hugh Bowman.
“It was a good trial,” Shum said. “He needed it, but he travelled very strong and he looked happy. We’ll see how he pulls up now, of course.”
After the trial, which saw Romantic Warrior finish alongside the Tony Cruz-trained Stunning Peach under a firm hold, Bowman, who has ridden Romantic Warrior in seven trials since February, 2024, offered a glowing review.
“He’s an exceptional racehorse and he loves his work,” Bowman said. “He’s had a long time off and he had a pretty soft trial at Happy Valley, so I let him do a bit more today.
“I’ve ridden him sparingly over the last couple of years and I think he looks better than he’s ever looked and he feels as good as he ever has.”
Romantic Warrior hasn’t been on the track since his narrow defeat in April’s G1 Dubai Turf (1800m), after which he suffered an injury to his left fore fetlock and required a screw insertion in May. Shum and owner Peter Lau opted for the surgery after the Hong Kong Jockey Club uncovered what was described as “some potential changes in one of the horse’s joints” following his tough Middle East campaign.
When asked whether Romantic Warrior was “back to his old self” following the trial on Tuesday – his second this term after a 1700m hit out at Happy Valley on September 27 – Shum stopped in his tracks and simply replied: “Back? He never left.”
Shum, who himself was limping around Sha Tin after having a knee replacement before the beginning of the season, confirmed everything is on track for Romantic Warrior’s most immediate target, the Jockey Club Cup on November 23.
“He’ll be running on November 23 and James McDonald has already been confirmed to ride,” Shum said. “Hugh’s report today was that he trialled very well and that he probably doesn’t need another trial. Maybe we’ll have a turf gallop.”
The trainer also outlined the most likely route for Romantic Warrior for the season: Jockey Club Cup on November 23, the G1 Hong Kong Cup on December 14, Saudi Cup on February 14 2026 and a trip to Dubai in April.
“We’ll have to see how the first two races in Hong Kong go, then he’ll be going to Saudi,” Shum added. “I really want to win in Saudi, it would just be amazing.
“He’ll go 12 days before the race and he won’t stay there too long. After that, we are thinking we could run on Dubai World Cup night again.” ∎
