by Alan Carasso
In the ending reminiscent of the 2014 BMW Hong Kong race, where the designs were longer in Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) becomes even better when the Auspicious Friend (Shamardal) is more limited in distance in dying strides, Romance Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) managed to shoot very bravely California Spangle (Ire) (Starsangledbanner {Aus}) to win the HK$24 million domestic central tournament on Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin Racecourse. Cash machines (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}), three times at the team level in New Zealand, overcame a perfect internal run to finish in third.
The nimble California Spangle, who was trying out the mileage and quarter for the first time in the pre-run tally in the Hong Kong Classics Cup in less time than the last, pinged the gates from stall 10 and performed a It takes some work to get down and up the fence, but stays steady from there as they turn down the back. SJ Tourbillon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) raced closest to the lead over the 1200 meter mark, while the Money Catcher was allowed to plunge and Karis Teetan had the Romantic midfield second voted and among the horses halfway.
Rocket Spade (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), the hero of the 2021 New Zealand G1 Derby, appeared three wide laps outside the pacemaker with three feathered hairpins for the race, but the California Spangle still played reasonably well and was first. face the referee. Step out about four paths, favorite path is awkward for a stride or two, still in command, but the Romance Warrior is finding his best move as he mounts his attack outside Mr Ascendancy (Ire) (Gurkha {Ire}). The Money Catcher has gone further inwards, but two Irish hybrids have come to tackle it, with the Romantic Warrior doing a bit better work through the line. He is the first Northern Hemisphere Derby winner since the aforementioned Future Horse of the Year and four-time Designs On Rome Group 1 winner and the first Derby winner for Teetan and coaching member Danny Shum.
The Romance Warrior was perfect in the first four starts – two in 4th at Happy Valley and one pair in 3rd in Sha Tin – before plunging home to the best California Spangle – who eventually finished. completed by the widest draw – at the Hong Kong Classic Mile 30 January. Turin Redsun (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), with the brave one-third Romance Warrior.
Genealogical notes:
Romantic Warrior was purchased by Hong Kong Jockey Club for 300,000gns from David and Henrietta Egan’s Corduff Stud draft at Tattersalls in October 2019 by a team led by legendary former equestrian Mick Kinane and has been prepare for the 2021 Hong Kong International Sales, postponed to June by the pandemic, but for many years held on the eve of the Derby. Shum told Nick Child of the Hong Kong Jockey Club in a post-race interview that owner Peter Lau was desperate for the horse and had purchased HK$4.8 million. (£444,729 / €517,894) for gelding. Other prominent graduates of Hong Kong International Sales include Hong Kong G1 hero Mile Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan), hero Mile The Duke (Aus) (Danehill) and ‘Rising star TDN’ and multiple winners of Team 1 Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal), Derby 2017 runner up.
The Romantic Warrior is the third pony from his dam, the daughter of the Folk Opera, whose greatest success on the track was in the 10-foot GI EP Taylor S. at Woodbine and its background also. including a win in the G2 Darley Prix Jean Romanet. With the Dubai World Cup meeting in sight, it’s interesting that the Romantic Warrior’s first two dams both had World Cup titles – Street Cry in 2002 and Singspiel in the second run being delayed due to timing. class in 1997.
Folk Melody’s last listed product is a 2 year old pony of this season called Operation Gimcrack (Ire) (Display {GB}), which acquired 160,000 gns from Bryan Smart Racing at the sale. Tattersalls October prices last year.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
BMW HONG KONG DERBY-LR24,000,000 Hong Kong dollars (£2,326,771/€2,772,061 / A$4,131,331 / US$3,067,112)Sha Tin, 3-20, NH/SH4yo, 2000mT, 2:00.23, gd.
first-ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE), 126, g, 4, by Exclamation mark (GB)
1st Dam: Folk Melody (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire)
Dam 2: Folk Opera (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire)
3rd Dam: Skiphall (GB), by Halling
(300,000gns Ylg ’19 TATOCT; HK$4,800,000 HRA’ 21 HKJUN). O-Peter Lau PakFai; B-Corduff Stud & TJ Rooney; T-Danny Shum CS; J-Karis Teetan; 13,680,000 Hong Kong dollars. Lifetime record: 7-6-0-0, HK$24,815,400.
2-California Spangle (Ire)126, g, 4, Starsangledbanner (Aus) –Pearlitas Passion (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). (150,000 € Ylg ’19 GOFORB). O-Howard Liang Yum Shing; BM Enright; T-Tony Cruz AS; J-Zac Purton; 5,280,000 Hong Kong dollars.
3–Cash machines (NZ), 126, g, 4, Ferlax (NZ) –Warren’s Sister (NZ), by Savabeel (Aus). (NZ$13,000 Wlg ’18 NZBMAY; NZ$60,000 2 years ’19 NZBRTR). O-The Sunflower Syndicate; B-Haunui Bloodstock Ltd; T-Frankie Lor FC; J-Derek Leung KC; HK$2,400,000.
Margins: HD, 2 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 27-10, 7-5, 34-1.
Also Ran: Senor Toba (Aus), The Irishman (NZ), Turin Redsun (GB), Crossford (Ire), Fa Fa (NZ), Nordic Sky (Brz), Champion Dragon (Ire), Ima Single Man (Aus) ), Mr Ascendancy (Ire), Rocket Spade (Aus), SJ Tourbillon (Ire). Click to view HKJC.com chart, PPs and cutting time.
