Romantic Warrior secured a record-extending fourth victory in the Group One QEII Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday, comfortably defeating international challengers Masquerade Ball and Sosie under jockey James McDonald.
Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior, the world's top two ranked racehorses, headline Sunday's FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin. Ka Ying Rising targets a record 20th consecutive victory in the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize, while Romantic Warrior seeks a fourth QEII Cup win against Japanese star Masquerade Ball and French raider Sosie. The HK$30 million QEII Cup features a blockbuster clash between the world's highest-earning racehorse and the highest-rated international raider ever to compete in Hong Kong.
Champion jockey Christophe Lemaire prepares to ride Japanese contender Masquerade Ball against Hong Kong's Romantic Warrior in Sunday's QEII Cup at Sha Tin, expressing confidence in the horse's potential despite the challenges of travel and acclimatization.
Ka Ying Rising aims for a 20th consecutive victory in the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize while Romantic Warrior bids for a fourth QEII Cup win at Sunday's FWD Champions Day in Sha Tin. The world's two highest-rated horses in the 2026 Longines rankings will face international competition in what trainers call the strongest QEII Cup in decades.
British challengers Royal Champion and Docklands had their first canters at Sha Tin on Wednesday ahead of Group One targets, with Royal Champion set to face Hong Kong's Romantic Warrior and Japan's Masquerade Ball in the QEII Cup. Meanwhile, Japan's June Take was pulled up during workout by Joao Moreira but was reported fine after veterinary examination.
