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James McDonald has hit the ground running since returning to Hong Kong and the ace rider – acclaimed 2024 LONGINES World’s Best Jockey – is aiming to kick on with his familiar unrelenting momentum at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (27 November).
Since his short-term contract commenced on 17 November, McDonald has won a pair of Group 2 races – atop Voyage Bubble and Romantic Warrior – and partnered three straight doubles to total six wins from 24 rides for a stunning 25%-win strike rate.
The in-demand New Zealander will chase a first win in the HK$1 million LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) on 4 December at Happy Valley before eyeing an unprecedented third HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on 8 December at Sha Tin with Romantic Warrior after triumphs in 2022 and 2023.
"He (Romantic Warrior) wears his heart on his sleeve. He's a once-in-a-lifetime horse and I would love to see him win a third (LONGINES Hong Kong Cup)," McDonald said. "Even watching his videos at trackwork – he's moving like a well-oiled machine. He's just really strutting his stuff. He's in career-best form."
Legendary grey California Memory is the only other horse with two LONGINES Hong Kong Cup victories (2011 & 2012) at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), prevailing both times for trainer Tony Cruz and jockey Matthew Chadwick.
Victory in Sunday week's LONGINES Hong Kong Cup will lift Romantic Warrior (HK$154.92 million) over Golden Sixty (HK$167.17 million) into the position as the world's highest-earning racehorse of all time.
"It's a great day (HKIR) to be part of and to have a live chance is even better. I just enjoy coming back to ride him (Romantic Warrior). He gives you so much confidence as a rider. You just look forward to the day, it's very self-explanatory," said McDonald, whose short-term contract in Hong Kong concludes at Sha Tin on 22 December.
Group 1 winners Tastiera, Calif, Liberty Island and Content have been selected from overseas to challenge Danny Shum's Romantic Warrior at the HK$126 million showcase. McDonald takes seven rides at Happy Valley tomorrow night, including Eternal Fortune (126lb) in the Class 3 Loch Lomond Handicap (1000m) for Shum.
"I worked him (Eternal Fortune) yesterday (Monday, 25 November). He's going really, really well," McDonald said. "He's hit a stumbling block with the gate (12), obviously it would have been lovely if he could have drawn an inside gate because now he's just going to need an extra bit of luck."
Horsepower (130lb) – owned by the Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Mr Michael Lee and his wife Vanessa Lee – reopposes Eternal Fortune from barrier 11, while Allgreektome – second between the pair last month – has gate one.
Red Elegance (133lb) and Atomic Force (133lb), fourth and fifth behind Horsepower last start, respectively, face the aforementioned trio again. Assigned 126lb, Allgreektome carries 119lb after Ellis Wong's seven-pound apprentice claim.
Trainer David Hayes said: "He (Allgreektome) drew wide and he worked hard to get to the lead and he just got pipped on the post. He's got a good barrier (one) this week and he's probably a little bit more fit now as it is his third run."
The Class 4 St Andrew's Challenge Quaich Handicap (1200m) is the trophy race at the city circuit tomorrow, where trainer Mark Newnham hopes Fatal Blow can strike with force from barrier seven with jockey Luke Ferraris engaged after placing third on debut.
"He's shown good talent since he has arrived here. He's got good natural pace out of the gates and I thought he did a good job on debut," Newnham said. "We gave him a nice soft trial just to keep his fitness levels up. We've given him plenty of time to recover after that first run. It looks like a nice race for him."
Readying for a LONGINES Hong Kong Cup tilt, 2024 HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner Massive Sovereign was first across the line in a barrier trial over 1600m on the grass at Sha Tin this morning (Tuesday, 26 November) under Zac Purton.
Trained by Dennis Yip, Massive Sovereign clocked 1m 37.18s, four and a quarter lengths ahead of stablemate Noisy Boy.
Wednesday's (27 November) nine-race fixture at Happy Valley starts at 6.40pm with the Class 5 Bridge Of Weir Handicap (1800m).