After an impressive win at the Longines Hong Kong Cup, jockey James McDonald remarked, “Unbelievable. I’m so goddamn proud of this horse.” To whom was he referring? Clearly, it was Romantic Warrior who surged ahead to claim victory at Sha Tin.

The jockey expressed his feelings passionately, declaring, “It’s just been a remarkable effort by Danny and his team. The Japanese put it to him but with no luck. Forget the rest; he’s the best. He has been flying; anyone could ride him; he’s that easy. I’m the lucky one; he’s the horse of a lifetime. This was our moment; we’ve made history, and it felt like I was lining up for the winning kick for the All Blacks. It was a ‘pinch me’ moment.” He expressed satisfaction with the efforts made by trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing’s team.

Furthermore, he was captivated by the performance of Romantic Warrior at the Hong Kong racecourse. The Irish-bred gelding remains undefeated since the final few races of the 2023 season, following his victory in the Ladbrokes W S Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Since then, all of his major races have been Grade 1 events, with the exception of the G2 Bochk Jockey Club Cup at Sha Tin on November 17, 2024. Yet, what can we say about his most recent victory?

The event unfolded at Meydan Racecourse, where Romantic Warrior triumphed in the Jebel Hatta, propelling his total earnings to an impressive $22,798,595, as reported by Equibase. The gelding’s earnings leading up to the 2025 Saudi Cup are noteworthy, and there are high expectations surrounding him. Certainly, the Irish-bred is poised to achieve yet another seamless triumph on this remarkable occasion. This time, he faces a new challenge on the horizon.

With Romantic Warrior sitting at odds of 2-1, it appears that only two horses stand a chance of posing a real threat to his bid for the prize. And who might they be? It’s Forever Young and Rattle N Roll. The odds for both stand at 8-5 and 10-1, respectively. However, if Romantic Warrior succeeds as he consistently does, a world record will be shattered.

Romantic Warrior is aiming for the massive purse

The overall prize pool for the Saudi Cup amounts to $20 million. The victor will receive a substantial portion, totaling $10 million. The chances for Romantic Warrior are elevated, and maintaining that winning streak is the goal. As he crosses that finish line first at the King Abdulaziz racecourse, he will be securing one of the most prestigious accolades in the horse racing world.

With a price tag of $22 million, Romantic Warrior has already established himself as a current world record holder among horses competing with such impressive earnings. Once he secures that $10 million bag in his career, his total earnings will surpass $32 million, positioning him as the highest-earning racehorse in history.

But whose record will he surpass? The name in question is Winx, a retired Australian horse who earned $26,421,176 throughout her career. Only time will tell what happens to Romantic Warrior in the famous Saudi Cup, which is only a few hours away.