Not many people can say they have had a hand in six Group One Cox Plate (2,040m) victories. But, thanks to Winx, Anamoe, and most recently, Romantic Warrior, equine physiotherapist Tom Simpson has done exactly that.

Romantic Warrior is the latest in a long line of superstar patients to benefit from Simpson’s magic touch since he swapped working on humans for treating horses 15 years ago.

“It’s 100 per cent the same. Obviously, you adapt your treatment to each individual horse, but you do that with a human as well,” Simpson said.

“We do a lot of acupuncture, TENS application, stretching, soft-tissue release, theraguns – literally everything the same, and you just tailor it according to the horse. They’re extremely amenable, they’re a very tactile animal, and they enjoy your company.”

Last on course for a Sha Tin feature day in May 2016 when Chautauqua exploded from last to win the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m), Simpson will be there again this weekend to watch Romantic Warrior bid for more elite-level glory in the Hong Kong Cup (2,000m).

“It’s been an enormous privilege and opportunity to be involved with Romantic Warrior,” said Simpson, who struck up an association with Danny Shum Chap-shing’s champion before his thrilling Cox Plate victory in October.

“I’ve known Danny for a number of years now, and being involved in his preparation for the Cox Plate was a huge thrill. I actually watched the Cox Plate here in Danny’s stable. It was unbelievable.”

Simpson was hands on with Romantic Warrior during his recent two-race Australian campaign, with him and his team working with the four-time Group One winner right up until Cox Plate morning.

“You taper – it’s a bit like preparing a team for the big game. A lot of the groundwork is done, and then he’s into a place where Danny will slowly step off the gas with the training, and it’s just ticking over,” Simpson said.

“It’s exactly the same with the physio. When we arrive there, naturally, there are certain aches, pains and tightness, so you iron those out and work closely with the riders and the trainer.

“Danny is an amazing trainer and extremely proactive. Certainly, we sing from the same hymn sheet – prevention is the cure.

“Leading into the race, it’s just about checking – his last treatment was the Wednesday before the Saturday [of the Cox Plate], and the staff ran a couple of stretches they do daily before Saturday, and away you go.”

Simpson has been working with Romantic Warrior this week and is happy with how the five-year-old is going ahead of his bid for back-to-back Hong Kong Cup victories.

“He’s certainly in very similar shape to before the Cox Plate. It’s like he knows when the race is coming up – he’s really sparked up this week,” said Simpson, who has also been working with speedster Wellington and another Hong Kong Cup runner, Sword Point, ahead of their Group One assignments this weekend.

Involved with a handful of trainers at Sha Tin since he started shuttling between Australia and Hong Kong before the start of this season, Simpson is hoping to make a permanent move to the city soon.

Romantic Warrior’s connections hope seven is magnificent for them again on Sunday

“It’s been a huge desire of mine to be involved in Hong Kong, and in my opinion, it’s the perfect place for it,” Simpson said.

“The horses are here, and they’re confined a lot more of the time than in Australia, and from a soft tissue or physiotherapy perspective, any help you can give them is certainly of huge benefit.

“I’m extremely invested in the Hong Kong racing jurisdiction, and to move here is the goal.”