Romantic Warrior bounced back in emphatic fashion at Sha Tin on Sunday, defending his Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) crown in style as the home team dominated on FWD Champions Day.

Romantic Warrior’s two-length victory over Japanese raider Prognosis followed earlier victories from Lucky Sweynesse in the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) and Golden Sixty in the Group One Champions Mile to ensure the internationals went home empty-handed.

“These Hong Kong horses are flying, and it’s great to be on them. There was not one part of the race where I didn’t feel he was right. He was always going to explode at the end, and the race panned out beautifully,” said jockey James McDonald after making it three wins from three rides aboard Danny Shum Chap-shing’s Romantic Warrior.

“He’s such a beautiful horse - very push button. He can position himself, he’s electric out of the gates, and he’s just got such a fantastic will to win.

“Danny had him beautifully today. He was lovely and relaxed in the parade ring and put on a spectacular performance. He’s a star.”

After winning the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) under McDonald in December, Romantic Warrior was second to Golden Sixty in the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m) and the Group One Gold Cup (2,000m) in his next two starts.

The Gold Cup loss at Romantic Warrior’s pet distance ensured the pressure was on heading into Sunday’s contest, but a relieved Shum revealed that not all was 100 per cent right before his five-year-old’s last outing in February.

“I feel big relief, to be honest. His last two starts he was beaten by Golden Sixty, which was a bit disappointing, but I know the horse tried very hard. I need to thank my stable team. They work really hard, and they never give up,” Shum said.

“Last start, he had a mild fever four or five days before he ran, which made me really worried, but the vets looked after him very well.

“I think it made his performance drop a little bit. After the race last start, I always go to the stable to give him some carrots and encourage him. In 15 minutes, he ate only one small piece of carrot. He was not happy, so I gave him a lot of time to let him recover. It’s just a big relief.”

British galloper Dubai Honour entered the race off consecutive elite-level triumphs in Australia but could only manage third, while Money Catcher was fourth and Japanese pair Danon The Kid and Geraldina failed to fire, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively.

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Romantic Warrior will now turn his attention to this season’s final Group One on May 28 before a spell and a potential overseas mission early next campaign.

“We plan to run in the [Champions & Chater Cup], and then the season will end. Then we’ll have a good look at Japan and which run I should start him in his first start. Probably October I’ll send him to Japan to take his first start,” Shum said, referencing the Group One Tenno Sho Autumn (2,000m) in Tokyo.