Melodic Charm
Ten days after being sourced to bolster China Horse Club’s European breeding division, the commercial credentials of Melodic Charm were enhanced when her younger half-brother Romantic Warrior saluted in Hong Kong’s most important international invitational race.
The HK34,000,000 (USD 4.35m) G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup is a benchmark for Hong Kong’s best performers. At the close, delivered with a scintillating turn of foot, was a four-and-a-half length triumph from Romantic Warrior.
“The potential for Romantic Warrior to enhance Melodic Charm’s pedigree was certainly part of the thought process when shortlisting Melodic Charm for China Horse Club, but the mare herself is a lovely style of mare and brings many qualities to the table,” said Matt Houldsworth, China Horse Club’s European Representative.
“She is a two time winner who ran a strong fourth in the G3 Sirenia Stakes at only her second start, she is carrying to an exceptional stallion in Dark Angel who we believe in and, most importantly, she will suit our portfolio of stallions that we have here.”
Romantic Warrior’s opus on Hong Kong’s international card is a defining performance for the gelding. It was his ninth win in 10 career starts and clearly his most important. Romantic Warrior had won a succession of notable races open exclusively to Hong Kong based performer but this was his chance to perform against open competition and he certainly delivered under the guidance of champion jockey James Macdonald.
“[Romantic Warrior’s] got everything a good horse has and he’s got it in spades. I didn’t think he’d win like that, but the quality of this horse is amazing. His turn of foot is incredible,” Macdonald said post-race.
In lifting his prize money to just shy of USD8 million Romantic Warrior may well have also elevated himself into the truly elite level of international performers in 2022, a domain headed by the USA’s Flightline, Britain’s Baeed and China Horse Club’s exceptional duo Life Is Good and State of Rest.
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