A trip back to the Group One Saudi Cup (1,800m) is the ultimate aim for Romantic Warrior as he continues to ramp up his work in preparation for a return in the Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin in November.

The 10-time Group One winner went agonisingly close to winning the Saudi Cup in Riyadh back in February but was collared in the dying strides by Forever Young, before suffering a similar fate when nosed out of the Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m) in April.

Subsequently, Romantic Warrior underwent surgery to his left fore fetlock after the Jockey Club detected potential changes in a joint during routine screening after the seven-year-old returned from his stint in the Middle East.

The highest-earning thoroughbred in history, Romantic Warrior recently got back on the track and his trainer Danny Chum Chap-shing has been pleased with his progress as he stepped up his work in a barrier trial at Happy Valley on Saturday morning.

“I’m very happy with him. Hugh [Bowman] said the horse was a little bit [eager] early but from the 1,000m, he was very relaxed,” Shum said.

“We want to do another trial or a gallop on the turf [before he races]. The plan is the [Jockey Club Cup], then to [December’s Hong Kong Cup] and then to the Saudi Cup – that’s the plan.

“He had surgery five months ago and he’s OK. He’s been galloping well, trotting well, eating well. I’m very happy with him.”

Meanwhile, jockeys Vincent Ho Chak-yiu and Matthew Poon Ming-fai had lucky escapes after being involved in a car accident on the way back from Conghua racecourse on Friday.

The pair were uninjured, but the driver of the car was hospitalised before being discharged later the same day. Ho has only recently returned to race riding after suffering a serious head injury and minor shoulder and neck fractures in a race fall in February.