Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble go head-to-head as Ka Ying Rising returns

Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble have both been entered for the HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) G1 Stewards' Cup (1 mile/1600m), while superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising is set to return in the G1 HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (6f/1200m) on 25 January at Sha Tin.

Romantic Warrior, who was last seen winning a record-extending fourth G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races in December, will drop back to a mile for the first time since winning the G1 Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo in 2024.

Danny Shum’s 10-time G1 winner was beaten in the 2023 renewal of the race by Hong Kong legend Golden Sixty and now faces another crack miler in the form of Voyage Bubble, who also scored at HKIR when landing a second consecutive G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile.

The pair have met three times in the past, with Romantic Warrior on top each time, but they have only met over Voyage Bubble’s preferred trip of a mile once, when Ricky Yiu’s seven-year-old ran below form in the Yasuda Kinen.

Were Voyage Bubble to emerge on top this time he would set a record as the first horse to win three Stewards’ Cups.

Romantic Warrior will miss a return to Saudi Arabia next month to attempt to avenge his defeat by Forever Young in last year’s Saudi Cup, with his owner Peter Lau declaring his intention to keep his star at home in a bid to land the Hong Kong Triple Crown.

The G1 Stewards’ Cup forms the first leg of the Triple Crown, which continues with the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup next month and culminates in the G1 Champions and Chater Cup in May.

Ka Ying Rising looking to equal Silent Witness’ Hong Kong record

After blowing his rivals away in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint at HKIR last month, Ka Ying Rising looks all but certain to equal the record 17-race winning streak of Hong Kong great Silent Witness in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup.

David Hayes’ five-year-old proved he is undoubtably the world’s best sprinter with victory in The Everest in October followed by December’s success at Sha Tin, and with history awaiting the son of Shamexpress it would be a colossal shock if any of the six rivals he is set to face were good enough to stop him.

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday, January 14.

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Feature photo credit: HKJC