Romance & Gold At Sha Tin Today

Romantic Warrior will be looking to draw level with Golden Sixty when the pair clash for the second time in their respective careers in tonight’s HK$12m Gr1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000m in Sha Tin.

Beaten by Golden Sixty last month in the Gr1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m), Romantic Warrior returns this weekend to his optimum distance, achieved last year with four wins in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m), Gr1 FWD QEII Cup ( 2000 m) can show. , Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and Gr2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m).

Golden Sixty is a two-time winner of the trip, having won the 2020 BMW Hong Kong Derby and the 2021 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup. Coach Danny Shum has no illusions about the task ahead as he seeks to topple Hong Kong’s reigning champions.

“I think Golden Sixty will be hard to beat – we have to respect him. He’s a brilliant horse and it’s going to be a tough race for sure,” said Shum. “We’re keeping it simple — fingers crossed.”

Karis Teetan re-boards Romantic Warrior this weekend, along with six others including Money Catcher, Tourbillon Diamond, Ka Ying Star, Glorious Dragon, Savvy Nine and Panfield.

“He (Romantic Warrior) is fine, he’s happy – there haven’t been any problems. It all depends on the draw, but he should be able to finish third, fourth or fifth (on the run),” Shum said.

Francis Lui has stated that Golden Sixty – now seven – has maintained his condition between runs while chasing a second Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup win and an improvement on his all-time Hong Kong winnings record (HK$129.69 million). .

“He’s holding his form, we’ll give him another grass gallop on Thursday morning (February 23).

“He’s still healthy, everything is fine and I hope he can go the distance – before he does. I think so (estimating 2000m more now), I think he’s more relaxed and he seems to be doing a lot better,” said Lui.

Golden Sixty stamped its authority over the Hong Kong racing hierarchy last start by defeating Romantic Warrior and California Spangle, but found Romantic Warrior over 10 furlongs the latest threat to its continued supremacy.

“We only have two options, the 1400 or 2000 – I prefer the 2000 meters. We just jump out, relax him (Golden Sixty) — he’s going far, so he needs to relax,” Lui said.

Tourbillon Diamond forms a two-pronged attack for Shum in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup and also has an entry for the Gr1 Dubai Turf (1800m) at Meydan on March 25.

“He signed up to run at the Dubai Turf. We’ll see how he goes in this race and whether we stick to that plan and go to Dubai or not,” Shum said.

As for California Spangle, Tony Cruz’s classy Miler got fitter this morning under Zac Purton as he prepares for his Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) tilt on March 19th.

“He races in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup – we have one more pre-race stage to go, there are seven weeks between races so there aren’t many options for him.

“He’s a very healthy horse – Zac was very happy with him, he said he was a lot more relaxed this morning. He goes when he wants him to go, if Zac asks the question, he goes. He did well, we’ll try again before the race,” said Cruz.

California Spangle clocked 58.15 seconds down the grass straight at Sha Tin and is expected to face Lucky Sweynesse and Wellington in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.

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The race starts at 07:00.