Buckle up, horse racing fans! Superstar jockey James McDonald is set to ride Beauty Bolt in the highly anticipated Classic Mile next month, as he eyes yet another historic victory with the champion horse, Romantic Warrior. This exciting development comes after the Kwok family, owners of Beauty Bolt, quickly secured McDonald’s services following the decision of eight-time Hong Kong champion Zac Purton to ride Sagacious Life in the opening leg of the four-year-old series.
Beauty Bolt, trained by Tony Cruz, has proven to be a reliable contender, consistently finishing in the top four in all seven of his local races, which include two impressive wins at Sha Tin. The talented Irish import made a significant mark by winning over a mile in November, but he faced stiff competition in his subsequent outings, finishing a heartbreaking second behind fellow Classic Series participants Dazzling Fit and Invincible Ibis.
McDonald expressed his enthusiasm for this opportunity, noting, "Patrick Kwok reached out to me, and since I've had previous success with them on Fit For Beauty, I was thrilled to receive the call." He emphasized Beauty Bolt's consistent performance and work ethic, stating, "He’s very, very consistent and a very honest horse. He tries hard and creates his own luck, so he has a lot going for him."
In light of Purton’s choice, another notable addition to the lineup is French jockey Maxime Guyon, who will ride Top Dragon, an impressive horse with three victories under his belt and a recent third-place finish behind Sagacious Life.
While McDonald's current commitment is solely for the Classic Mile on February 1, he is eager to also participate in the subsequent legs of the series—the Classic Cup (1,800m) on March 1 and the illustrious HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) on March 22—provided the right circumstances arise.
Next week, McDonald will return to Hong Kong to reunite with Romantic Warrior, who is gearing up for his quest for the Triple Crown in the prestigious Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m). Trained by Danny Shum Chap-shing, Romantic Warrior recently extended his record with a fourth consecutive win in the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) last month, outperforming competitors while under McDonald’s expert guidance. The champion horse has been preparing for the upcoming race with a strong trial performance, demonstrating his readiness.
McDonald remarked on Romantic Warrior’s adaptability: "He trialled well, so we’re looking forward to that. The mile’s fine; it could be seven furlongs, and I wouldn’t worry about it. He’s very adaptable.” This 11-time Group One victor is now focusing on the Triple Crown, particularly after owner Peter Lau Pak-fai opted not to send him back to Saudi Arabia for the upcoming US$20 million (HK$155.9 million) Saudi Cup (1,800m) on dirt.
The Triple Crown series also includes the Group One Gold Cup (2,000m) and the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m), and it’s worth noting that Voyage Bubble became the first horse in over three decades to win this prestigious three-leg series last year.
Additionally, McDonald will be collaborating with Fast Network in the Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) next week, following a solid performance where Fast Network secured a commendable third place against Ka Ying Rising in last month’s Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m).
"We’re obviously running for second, but he’s very consistent—he’s a beautiful horse," McDonald commented. Fast Network has rapidly climbed the ranks as one of the city’s most promising sprinters, especially behind the dominant Ka Ying Rising, having won October’s Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m) before achieving notable placements in the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) and the Hong Kong Sprint.
