Black-Type Analysis: Romantic Warrior Aims For Four QEII Cups

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Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 14:35, CHAIRMAN'S SPRINT PRIZE-G1, HK$24,000,000, 3yo/up, 1200mTField: Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), Satono Reve (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}), Fast Network (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}), Raging Blizzard (NZ) (Per Incanto), Comanche Brave (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Tomodachi Kokoroe (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}), Beauty Waves (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}).TDN Analysis: One of the headliners of FWD Champions Day, Ka Ying Rising is gunning for his 20th consecutive win by a Hong Kong-trained horse. The reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year leaves from stall three in the eight-horse field and has soundly defeated most of his rivals here several times. Dual G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen hero Satono Reve returns for another crack at the Hong Kong superstar. He's finished placed behind the son of Shamexpress twice, and was a solid second in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes last June. Helios Express is looking to improve one spot, having lost to Ka Ying Rising in each of his last three starts, including the G2 Sprint Cup in April. Donnacha O'Brien saddles new shooter Comanche Brave, third in the G2 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia in February.Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 15:45, FWD CHAMPIONS MILE-G1, HK$24,000,000, 3yo/up, 1600mTField: Jantar Mantar (Jpn) (Palace Malice), Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}), Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}), My Wish (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}), Red Lion (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), Galaxy Patch (Aus) (Wandjina {Aus}), Strauss (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), Cap Ferrat (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), Invincible Ibis (Aus) (Hellbent {Aus}), Sunlight Power (Aus) (Capitalist {Aus}), Chacheng Glory (Mor Spirit), Copartner Prance (Aus) (Epaulette {Aus}), Little Paradise (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}). Reserves: Patch Of Theta (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), Stormy Grove (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}).TDN Analysis: Multiple Group 1 scorer Jantar Mantar is most lethal at 1600 metres, and he most recently ran out a winner of the G1 Mile Championship in November. Ranked equal to that Japanese raider is Hong Kong's local hope Voyage Bubble, a winner of the G1 Hong Kong Mile during the Hong Kong International races in December. He ran third in the G2 Chairman's Trophy to Lucky Sweynesse and My Wish earlier this month. Adding some European flavour to the proceedings is G1 Queen Anne Stakes hero Docklands. The Massaat gelding ran with credit in this locale when fourth to Voyage Bubble in December.Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 16:55, FWD QEII CUP-G1, HK$30,000,000, 3yo/up, 2000mTField: Masquerade Ball (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal), Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Giovanni (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), June Take (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Rubylot (Aus) (Rubick {Aus}), Numbers (NZ) (Tivaci {Aus}).TDN Analysis: Missing from this race after taking in contests during the same time period in the Middle East last year, Romantic Warrior is aiming for his fourth QEII title and first since 2024. Leaving from stall five in the eight-horse field, the former Hong Kong Horse of the Year squares off with the talented Masquerade Ball. That luminary, the victor of the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) last November, has yet to grace the racecourse in 2026. G1 Neom Turf Cup winner Royal Champion stepped up in a big way in Riyadh and enters this fresh, while the Wertheimers' Sosie won over 2400 metres here in the G1 Hong Kong Vase in December and should not be discounted.Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 16:25, PRIX GANAY WORLD POOL BY PMU-G1, €300,000, 4yo/up, 10 1/2fTField: Daryz (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Arrow Eagle (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}), First Look (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Bright Picture (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).TDN Analysis: All eyes on the returning Daryz following his Arc exploits as he drops back in trip to encounter the star mare Aventure. Although the Aga Khan Studs homebred did have winning form at and around this distance at three, it was marked how much he improved when sent over a mile and a half on testing ground in the autumn showcase and he could be vulnerable beginning his campaign. That also applies to Aventure, who was disappointing in the Arc having looked a key player following her Vermeille victory and it would be no surprise to see the Wertheimers' second string Bright Picture upstage her with Prix Exbury and Prix d'Harcourt wins already under his belt in 2026. [Tom Frary].Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 13:58, PRIX DE BARBEVILLE-G3, €73,200, 4yo/up, 15fTField: Presage Nocturne (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Double Major (Ire) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), Asmarani (Ire) (Sottsass {Fr}), Espoir Avenir (Fr) (Montmartre {Fr}).TDN Analysis: Asmarani has already dealt with Double Major twice this year in Chantilly's Prix Bering and Saint-Cloud's Listed Prix Right Royal, but there is only one pound separating them here so the Aga Khan Studs homebred will have to have improved again. Presage Nocturne had a similar type to Asmarani in Candelari back in third in this 12 months ago, but a repeat would be a minor surprise. [Tom Frary].Sunday, Krefeld, Germany, post time: 13:22, DER GROSSE BUSINESS-BANKING CUP – DR BUSCH-MEMORIAL-G3, €55,000, 3yo, 8 1/2fTField: Asker (Ger) (Aclaim {Ire}), Charleston (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Commander's Intent (Fr) (Victor Ludorum {GB}), Loucas (Ger) (Best Solution {Ire}), Seguro (Ger) (Romanised {Ire}), Simply Best (Ger) (Best Solution {Ire}), Sonic Boom (Ger) (Zelzal {Fr}).TDN Analysis: Commander's Intent may have been last in the Craven, but that form might be good enough to see off some German Classic prospects. They include the Ferdinand Leisten Memorial winner Loucas, the Mulheim maiden winner Sonic Boom and Cologne scorer Simply Best, who warrants respect from the Andreas Wohler stable. [Tom Frary].*Click here for the complete fields.The post Black-Type Analysis: Romantic Warrior Aims For Four QEII Cups appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.