Monday, 7th April 2025
All enquiries - Gary Knowles 0406 599 773
After his triumph at the prestigious Gr1 Cox Plate (2040m) in Melbourne this past October, Romantic Warrior is now gearing up for an ambitious challenge at Japan's Gr1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) in June, reports scmp.com. While Romantic Warrior (Acclamation-Folk Melody, by Street Cry) secured his lone victory over 1600m in the 2022 Classic Mile against his own age group, he previously gave Golden Sixty formidable competition, trailing by just a length over the same distance. "…he'll trial on Tuesday. Then we will aim at the Yasuda Kinen if everything is OK…it's a long straight and it's up and down, so I think he can handle it," said his trainer Danny Shum who is optimistic about the upcoming Japanese challenge, citing the belief that Tokyo's undulating surface will favor Romantic Warrior's racing style. The owner of Romantic Warrior, Peter Lau Pak-fai, co-founded Japan Home Centre and holds strong business connections to the country. This association adds an extra layer of significance to the ambitious venture. Shum added, "The owner has always wanted to go to Japan and he's already told me he wants to go to the Yasuda Kinen. I'm pretty happy to go." Hong Kong has previously tasted success at the Yasuda Kinen, with Fairy King Prawn claiming victory under Ivan Allan's guidance in 2000, and Tony Cruz's Bullish Luck emerging triumphant in 2006.
