C S Shum
With this win, C S Shum moved to 4 Group 1 wins this season, 10 wins behind leader Chris Waller in the 2026 trainers' table. The stable had come close here before: Romantic Warrior was second in 2023.
Hong Kong
Sha Tin · 24.05.26
Watch the racePurse€1,457,200
Distance2400 metres
Winning time2m 26.67s
SurfaceTurf · Good To Firm
Conditions3-year-olds and up
Runners9
Stories of this Result
James McDonald
James McDonald had already won this race aboard Voyage Bubble (2025). With this win, the jockey moved to 16 Group 1 wins this season, 12 wins clear at the top of the 2026 jockeys' table.
Watch the race
Australia and NZ Blacktype Racing Dump · English commentaryResult
9 runners · prize money to 4th placePosHorseJockey · TrainerMarginPrize
5thWinning Wing5yo gelding by Preferment × Stand FirmH T MoK W LuiShort head
7thKa Ying Generation6yo gelding by Churchill × War GoddessAndrea AtzeniP C NgNeck
8thGentlemen Legacy5yo gelding by Showtime × ChapletAlexis BadelTony Cruz½
Pedigree of the winner
As of race day 24.05.26Romantic Warrior
AcclamationSire
Folk MelodyDamby Street Cry
DamFolk Melody
Romantic Warrior is out of Folk Melody (Street Cry), a winner at two, and is her third foal and her only stakes winner. She is also the dam of End Of Romance (Showcasing), stakes-placed in the US.
Second damFolk Opera
Second dam Folk Opera (Singspiel) won the Grade 1 E P Taylor Stakes in Canada and bred six winners, among them the dual winner Folk Dance (Golden Horn).
Third damSkiphall
Third dam Skiphall (Halling) was placed four times and had five winners. They include The Black Russian (One Cool Cat), a winner placed in the Gr.3 Kilbegnet Novice Chase, and the winner One True Love (Duke Of Marmalade), dam of Nothing Better, a dual Listed winner who was Group 3-placed. Skiphall is also the second dam of the Listed-placed winners Il Frantoio (Aclaim) and Herecomesthesun (Invincible Spirit).
Next generation
Folk Melody has a yearling filly by Havana Grey and was covered by Too Darn Hot in 2025.
Connections
Romantic Warrior in 2026
3 other winsTrainer / Jockey / Track
Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Hong Kong)2000 metres · €3,362,8001stC S ShumJames McDonald26.04.2026Sha TinPrize money €1,883,170Race detailsWatch
Hong Kong Gold Cup2000 metres · €1,457,2001stC S ShumJames McDonald01.03.2026Sha TinPrize money €924,084Race detailsWatch
Stewards' Cup1600 metres · €1,457,2001stC S ShumJames McDonald25.01.2026Sha TinPrize money €924,084Race detailsWatch
All winners since 2020
| Year | Winner | Trainer / Jockey | Owner / Breeder | Video | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Voyage BubbleDeep Field × Raheights | Ricky YiuJames McDonald | Sunshine And Moonlight SyndicateTorryburn Stud (Aus) | ||
| 2024 | Rebel's RomanceDubawi × Minidress | Charlie ApplebyWilliam Buick | Godolphin, LlcGodolphin | ||
| 2023 | Russian EmperorGalileo × Atlantic Jewel | Douglas WhyteHugh Bowman | Mike Cheung Shun ChingCoolmore, Laurie Macri and partners | ||
| 2022 | Russian EmperorGalileo × Atlantic Jewel | Douglas WhyteBlake Shinn | Mike Cheung Shun ChingCoolmore, Laurie Macri and partners | ||
| 2021 | PanfieldLookin At Lucky × Esterina II | A T MillardKaris Teetan | Yue Yun HingAgricola Taomina Ltda | ||
| 2020 | ExultantTeofilo × Contrary | Tony CruzZac Purton | Eddie Wong Ming Chak & Wong Leung Sau HingBallygallon Stud |
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