Horse racing news: Royal Champion takes on Romantic Warrior, Masquerade Ball in FWD QEII Cup
Karl Burke’s Royal Champion will head to Hong Kong for a showdown with local superstar Romantic Warrior and Japanese duo Masquerade Ball and Museum Mile on FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday 26 April.
Royal Champion defeated quality opposition to win the 2026 G1 Neom Turf Cup, including Group 1 winner Facteur Cheval, and the well-travelled eight-year-old makes his way to Sha Tin to contest the HK$30 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (1m2f/2000m) in some career-best form for trainer Burke.
Horse racing news: Ka Ying Rising equals Silent Witness with historic G1 Centenary Sprint Cup win
Moments after Ka Ying Rising forged into Hong Kong racing history with a record-equalling win in the HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (6f/1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday 25 January, David Hayes predicted the world’s best sprinter could potentially break Sha Tin’s 1400m course record next month.
Horse racing news: Romantic Warrior ready for first leg of Triple Crown clash with Voyage Bubble
Romantic Warrior worked smoothly through his final piece of serious trackwork on Tuesday morning (20 January) under the cover of darkness at Sha Tin in preparation for Sunday afternoon’s (25 January) HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) G1 Stewards’ Cup (1 mile/1600m).
Gearing up for the Triple Crown’s first leg at Sha Tin, Romantic Warrior clocked an untested 1m 16.6s (27, 25.7, 23.9) under Hugh Bowman on the turf course alongside stablemate Romantic Thor, and it was much to the satisfaction of trainer Danny Shum.
Horse racing news: Dylan Browne McMonagle lands first Hong Kong winner with Flow Water Flow
Dylan Browne McMonagle slotted his first winner in Hong Kong when he piloted John Size–trained Flow Water Flow to victory in the Class 4 Triathlon Handicap (1 mile/1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday 18 January.
The 22-year-old Irishman struck on what was only his 24th ride in Hong Kong, finishing strongly to get the better of the James Orman–ridden The Golden Knight by a short-head at the line.