Lor’s Numbers to follow home Triple Crown-winning Warrior

Romantic Warrior, a 14-time Group One winner, is set to compete in the final leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown, the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, at Sha Tin. The eight-year-old has already secured victories in the Stewards Cup and Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup this season and remains unbeaten with five wins from five starts. The 12-furlong race presents a challenge, as Romantic Warrior was defeated at this distance three seasons ago, but recent improvements suggest he is the favorite to complete the Triple Crown and become only the third horse in Hong Kong history to do so. The race also features international contenders, including Japanese stayers Deep Monster and Rousham Park, both proven over similar distances. Deep Monster is a dual Group Two winner, while Rousham Park finished second in the 2024 Group One Breeders Cup Turf. Romantic Warrior’s stablemate, Romantic Thor, who recently won the Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup, will also compete but is considered less likely to place despite the ride of top jockey Zac Purton. Former BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Cap Ferrat, who has had health issues, is another participant but may not be at peak form. A strong challenger to Romantic Warrior could be Numbers, trained by Frankie Lor. Numbers finished second in this year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby and previously placed runner-up in the Group One Queensland Derby over 12 furlongs in Australia. Lor is confident in Numbers’ condition, and the horse’s step up to the longer distance could make him a viable contender and potential forecast partner with Romantic Warrior. The race, marking the end of the Hong Kong Group One season, is highly anticipated by racing fans and could solidify Romantic Warrior’s legacy in Hong Kong racing history.