Horse racing news: Harry Bentley lands £1.2 million Hong Kong Classic Cup aboard Stormy Grove

Harry Bentley secured his biggest success yet in Hong Kong when delivering Stormy Grove with a sensational late run to score an upset and claim the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic series, the HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) Hong Kong Classic Cup (1m1f/1800m), at Sha Tin on Sunday 1 March.

The son of Toronado made it two wins in a row and landed the Hong Kong Classic Cup with a performance reminiscent of his explosive 1600m showing at Sha Tin two weeks ago, when, after being drawn 14, he surged from last to first to claim his first Hong Kong win.

This time, after once again emerging from a wide draw in stall 12, Bentley drew Stormy Grove wide into the home straight and urged the Frankie Lor–trained gelding to challenge, swooping home in a race-fastest final 400m sectional of 23.04s to finish a length clear of the fast-closing Invincible Ibis, who led home Patch Of Cosmo and Numbers.

Stormy Grove’s ‘very special’ win

“This feels extremely special,” said Bentley, who has been in the saddle for each of Stormy Grove’s seven Hong Kong runs.

“I’ve liked this horse throughout, and I’ve struck up a good partnership with him. I was extremely impressed with the way he won last time.

“I had to come into this race with a certain level of expectation and hope. But to do it the way he did was pretty breathtaking.”

It was Stormy Grove’s first run over 1800m, and he’ll need to break new ground again when he goes for BMW Hong Kong Derby (1m2f/2000m) glory on 22 March.

“This ranks very highly on my wins in Hong Kong, and it’s very special,” said the Englishman.

“He's stepped up again, and he can do it. Same again, now, to the Derby.”

Frankie Lor felt a suitable pace aided his charge and said a similarly run race on BMW Hong Kong Derby day might lead to further glory for the Australian-bred Stormy Grove: “I thought if the pace was suitable for him, he could do the same thing as last time at 1600 [metres].

“Next is 2000 [metres], and I think if the pace is suitable for him, then he can do the same thing.

“I think if he can settle, like today – he settled real good, and also the jockey – he knows the horse, he can have a very strong finish.”

Bentley’s other notable successes in Hong Kong include victory aboard Whizz Kid in the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy in 2024 and last year aboard Helene Feeling in the G3 January Cup.

READ MORE: Breakout Jockeys and Horses to Follow in the Upcoming Calendar

Romantic Warrior a class apart

An imperious Romantic Warrior made light work of five rivals to win a second HK$13m (approx. £1.2m) G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (1m2f/2000m) for trainer Danny Shum and jockey James McDonald, following on from his success in 2024.

Sauntering to a four-length victory in the Triple Crown’s second leg, which follows his win in the HK$13m (approx. £1.2m) G1 Stewards’ Cup (1 mile/1600m) and will climax with the HK$13m G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (1m4f/2400m) on 24 May, Romantic Warrior won a record-extending 13th Group 1 – the most for a Hong Kong–trained horse.

McDonald said: “He’s just beautifully prepared. Danny’s just done a marvellous job, and each and every time I hop on him, I just cherish the moment.

“I feel so special every time and you look between his ears and he’s just so alert.”

Shum said: “It’s a small field, and he’s very fit, actually. His condition is getting better and better.

“The 2000 metres is his best trip. I think he can handle it [2400m], but I don’t know if any overseas horses will come [in May], but I think they have a lot of potential.” 

Shum, 65, indicated Romantic Warrior will chase a fourth HK$30m (approx. £2.8m) G1 FWD QEII Cup (1m2f/2000m) after wins from 2022-2024 on FWD Champions Day (26 April) before the Triple Crown’s last leg, the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup.

Beyond this season, Shum didn’t rule out returning to Saudi Arabia, the site of his famous close-up defeat to Forever Young in the 2025 G1 Saudi Cup.

“I think he will now go to the QEII Cup and then to the Champions & Chater before he finishes the season,” Shum said.

“Maybe next season we will go to the Saudi Cup – we will keep everything open for now.” 

Victory sees Romantic Warrior join Viva Pataca (2008 & 2009), Military Attack (2013 & 2014), Designs On Rome (2015 & 2016), Time Warp (2018 & 2020), and Golden Sixty (2021 & 2023) as dual Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup winners since the turn of the century.

The only Triple Crown winners in Hong Kong racing history are the trailblazing River Verdon (1993/94) and Voyage Bubble last season.

Racing in Hong Kong continues on Wednesday 4 March with a nine-race card from Happy Valley.

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