Romantic Warrior, one of global racing’s biggest stars, has retired after suffering a leg injury in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong superstar ends his career as the highest-earning racehorse in history.
He earned £28,028,453 from 31 career starts. He also won 24 races, including 15 at Group 1 level.
Romantic Warrior won 18 Group races during his outstanding career.
He became a two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year. He also won the Hong Kong Triple Crown.
The star also claimed four Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cups. In addition, he won the Group 1 FWD QEII Cup four times.
His international record included major wins in Japan, Australia and the UAE.
Acclamation sired Romantic Warrior. Folk Melody produced him. Corduff Stud and T. J. Rooney bred him in Ireland.
Mick Kinane bought him as a yearling at the 2019 Tattersalls October Sale. The purchase price reached 300,000 guineas.
Winning debut
Romantic Warrior began his racing career at Happy Valley in 2021.
Danny Shum trained the horse for owner Peter Lau Pak Fai.
Romantic Warrior won his debut as a three-year-old. He then added five more victories that season.
He lost only once during the campaign.
His impressive season ended with a Group 1 victory in the FWD QEII Cup.
The following season brought another important partnership.
Three-time LONGINES World’s Best Jockey James McDonald joined Romantic Warrior’s story. The jockey eventually partnered the star in 20 of his 31 races.
McDonald returned to the saddle in December 2023. Romantic Warrior then produced another memorable performance.
He won his first Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup. That victory started a remarkable run in the famous race.
Second best
Romantic Warrior also shared the spotlight with Hong Kong superstar Golden Sixty.
The pair produced several memorable clashes.
However, Romantic Warrior finished second in both the Group 1 Stewards’ Cup and Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup in 2023.
He responded with another victory in the Group 1 FWD QEII Cup.
Romantic Warrior then tackled 2400m for the first time. He narrowly missed victory in the Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup.
The 2023/24 season brought his first international trip.
Romantic Warrior travelled to Australia for the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
He produced a brilliant finish to beat Mr Brightside. The victory became one of the biggest moments of his career.
He then returned to Hong Kong.
Romantic Warrior successfully defended his Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup title. He narrowly defeated Aidan O’Brien-trained Luxembourg.
He later added another Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup victory. He also claimed his third Group 1 FWD QEII Cup.
International success
Romantic Warrior continued his international success in Japan.
He won the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo. The victory further strengthened his global reputation.
The remarkable campaign earned him the 2023/24 Hong Kong Horse of the Year award.
Romantic Warrior continued to dominate during the following season.
He won the Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup for a third time.
That victory also pushed his career earnings above Golden Sixty’s total.
As a result, Romantic Warrior became the highest-earning racehorse in history.
His connections then planned another international campaign.
In January 2025, Romantic Warrior won the Group 1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan.
That victory set up a historic challenge in the Group 1 Saudi Cup.
Narrowly mastered
Romantic Warrior faced another major challenge in the Saudi Cup.
It marked his first race on a dirt surface.
For much of the long Riyadh straight, he looked capable of winning.
However, superstar dirt horse Forever Young caught him near the finish.
Forever Young eventually beat Romantic Warrior by a narrow margin.
Romantic Warrior then suffered another close defeat.
He finished a nose behind Soul Rush in the Group 1 Dubai Turf.
That race proved to be his final start of the 2024/25 season.
A fetlock injury later required surgery in 2025.
Many fans feared that the injury could end his career.
Romantic Warrior returned stronger than ever.
He won the Group 2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup after his comeback.
He then won all five of his final starts.
That run included his fourth Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup. He also claimed a fourth Group 1 FWD QEII Cup.
Romantic Warrior then targeted the Hong Kong Triple Crown.
The series included the Group 1 Stewards’ Cup, Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup and Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup.
Romantic Warrior won all three races.
As a result, he became only the third horse to complete the Hong Kong Triple Crown.
He ended the 2025/26 season with another major honour.
Romantic Warrior shared the Hong Kong Horse of the Year award with sprint star Ka Ying Rising.
However, his racing career has now come to an end.
Veterinarians assessed his front leg after further diagnostic tests. His connections then decided to retire the champion.
Romantic Warrior will spend the next three months at Conghua Racecourse.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club will continue to monitor him during that period.
He will then move to a retirement home through the Club’s RESTART Racehorse Aftercare Programme.
The Club also plans a farewell ceremony at Sha Tin later this season.
Hong Kong racing returns for the 2026/27 season on Sunday, September 6.
Sha Tin will host a 10-race card on the opening day.
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