Royal Champion

Despite facing what trainer Danny Shum described as the strongest field to go to post for the G1 FWD QEII Cup "for 15 or 20 years", it was a case of business as usual at Sha Tin on Sunday as Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) saw off a formidable international challenge to register a record-extending fourth success in the HK$30-million showpiece on FWD Champions Day. Racing in a clear fourth as last month's Hong Kong Derby second Numbers (Tivaci) led the eight-strong field to the home turn, the strong-travelling Romantic Warrior soon...

Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) is one of the headline acts for FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on April 26. A total of HK78 million (€8,522,110) is on offer across the three Group 1 races--the FWD QEII Cup (2000m), FWD Champions Mile and the Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m). Overall, there are 38 entries for the three races (excluding reserves), 13 of them winners at the highest table. A winner of the Chairman's Sprint Prize in 2025, the gelding is aiming for his second win...

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- On a day when America, Britain, Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Japan were all represented in the winner's circle at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, perhaps the most astonishing performance came from the Karl Burke-trained Royal Champion. The son of Shamardal appears still to be improving at the age of eight and bounced into his biggest success yet in the G1 Howden Neom Turf Cup off the back of a similarly impressive win in the G2 Bahrain International Trophy. His jockey Oisin Murphy had got his eye in with...

Friday, Bahrain Turf Club, Kingdom of Bahrain, post time: 19:40, BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL TROPHY-G2, $1,000,000, 3yo/up, 2000mT Field: Bright Picture (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), Calif (Ger) (Areion {Ger}), Galen (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Lion's Pride (GB) (Roaring Lion), Military Order (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Persica (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal), Pride Of Arras (Ire) (New Bay {GB}). TDN Analysis: With the withdrawal of Group 1 winner Tornado Alert (Too Darn Hot), Godolphin only has the G3 Winter Derby scorer Military Order set to start for Charlie Appleby in this lucrative contest. However,...

Friday, Bahrain Turf Club, Kingdom of Bahrain, post time: 19:40, BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL TROPHY-G2, $1,000,000, 3yo/up, 2000mT Field: Bright Picture (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), Calif (Ger) (Areion {Ger}), Galen (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Lion's Pride (GB) (Roaring Lion), Military Order (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Persica (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal), Pride Of Arras (Ire) (New Bay {GB}). TDN Analysis: With the withdrawal of Group 1 winner Tornado Alert (Too Darn Hot), Godolphin only has the G3 Winter Derby scorer Military Order set to start for Charlie Appleby in this lucrative contest. However,...

Few trainers have been in better form of late than Ed Walker, who already has nine stakes winners to his name this season. Prior to a busy week at Royal Ascot, the Lambourn trainer has another shot at Classic glory in Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane with American Gal. The Kameko filly, who races for the Drew Family's Mildmay Racing, won the Listed Prix de Lilas over a mile at Chantilly back in early May. "This has been the plan since then, so I just hope the ground doesn't dry...

It should shock no one that Godolphin homebred Nations Pride (Teofilo {Ire}) has a more-frequently used passport than most of his human connections. The star 4-year-old has raced (and won) in his native England, is a Grade I winner in the United States, a graded-stakes winner in the United Arab Emirates and most recently took a Grade I race in Germany July 30 before shipping north of the border to Woodbine. Racing with the addition of Lasix for his Canadian debut, the son of Teofilo certainly wooed the betting public...