Tag: Australian Racing Tips

Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior has scored a last stride thrilling win in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

Champion James McDonald’s faith in Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior has been vindicated with the jockey landing a second Cox Plate victory. 

After guiding Anamoe to success in last year’s Group 1 weight-for-age championship, McDonald had to call on all his strength to get Romantic Warrior home in the 2040m contest at Moonee Valley on Saturday. 

McDonald never lost faith in Romantic Warrior despite the Danny Shum-trained gelding being beaten at his Australian debut in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 7. 

Starting the $3.60 favourite, Romantic Warrior scored by a nose from Mr Brightside ($9) with Alligator Blood ($6) a short-neck away third. 

Romantic Warrior returned a win dividend of $2.80 on the World Pool. 

McDonald made trips to Hong Kong to partner Romantic Warrior to win the lead up to the Hong Kong Cup as well as the Hong Kong Cup at the international meeting last year and was also aboard gelding to win the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in April. 

“This horse is pretty special to me,” McDonald said. 

“I mentioned if he came to a Cox Plate, he’d be a suitable horse. I meant what I said and credit to (owner) Peter (Lau Pak Fai) and Danny. 

“It takes a hell of a lot of balls to come out of Hong Kong with all the prizemoney there. It is one of the best racing jurisdictions in the world and they come here and showcase their boy. 

“I reckon he’s got more to come, too. 

“He’s been bubbling. He showed a significant amount of improvement like I thought he would, and he loves the bloody Valley!” 

The first three horses across the line were positioned third, fourth and fifth in the running line behind King Colorado and Zaaki. 

McDonald elected to ease three wide racing to the 600m mark with Alligator Blood taking up his spot. 

Romantic Warrior wobbled slightly around the turn, as did Zaaki which allowed Mr Brightside to get up on the fence to hit the front 50m out, only to be grabbed on the line. 

McDonald said he was comfortable where Romantic Warrior was positioned in the race. 

“I knew I was on the right horse, and I kept going, ‘he’s the best horse, he’s the best horse’ so I’d ride him like it,” McDonald said. 

“I took a gamble about the 1000 (metres) or 1200. We elected to come back a spot and to the minute right now I believe that was the winning move.” 

Shum said it had been a gamble to send Romantic Warrior from Hong Kong to contest Saturday’s race. 

Romantic Warrior had to adapt to different training conditions in quarantine at Werribee having not raced since late in May in Hong Kong. 

The gelding had an interrupted preparation before arrival in Australia missing an important trial and initially not taking to a change in feed. 

But Romantic Warrior was able to overcome that adversity to claim Australia’s best race. 

“I don’t know how to tell you how happy I am. I am really happy,” Shum said. 

“I want to thank Peter the owner for giving permission to come here. James Mcdonald, all the team, all the Hong Kong fans, my wife Christine, my son Aaron. 

“I love you! I love you!” 

After Romantic Warrior’s first-up Australian defeat, Shum said he was a little deflated, but knew the gelding would improve with the outing. 

“He was not really ready, but he got better day-by-day,” Shum said. 

“I was confident he would run a good race, but it is a strong race. 

“He overcame all of the challenges and the difficulties. James McDonald gave me a very good report.” 

Shum said Romantic Warrior would return to Hong Kong as early as possible to prepare for the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on December 10.

Monee Valley Cup winner jumps to 14th in order of entry.

A penalty for his Moonee Valley Cup win, combined with natural attrition, has Cleveland safely in the field for next week’s $8.4 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup.

Racing Victoria’s head of handicapping David Hegan issued the Kris Lees-trained entire a 0.5kg penalty for Friday night’s win under 55.5kg, taking his Melbourne Cup weight to 52kg.

Placed 24th in the order of entry prior to the win, Cleveland elevated a few spots owing to several higher-weighted runners not being paid-up as third-round acceptors and now sits in 14th position after the penalty.

“Under the set weights and penalty conditions of the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, Cleveland was allocated the base weight on Friday night,” Hegan said.

“Thus, he came in well at the weights against some of his opposition on the night and compared to where they are in the Melbourne Cup weights.

“Vow and Declare and Future History will now meet Cleveland 0.5kg and 3kg better respectively in the Melbourne Cup after the penalty. If the luckless Athabascan makes the field it would be a 3.5kg turnaround in his favour against Cleveland too.”

Cleveland becomes the first Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner to receive a Melbourne Cup penalty since 2015 when The United States moved to 52.5kg with a 2.5kg penalty.

Cleveland will be one of two Melbourne Cup runners for six-time winner Lloyd Williams and his partners after Epsom Derby winner Serpentine jumped to 22nd in the order of entry.

In 23rd position is More Felons with True Marvel 24th but those two are not yet guaranteed a run with a ballot exemption on offer to the winner of Saturday’s The Archer at Flemington, while Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup contains two runners – Hasta La War (29th) and Interpretation (31st) – who can elevate their position in the order of entry if they win and receive a penalty.