Cox Plate favourite Romantic Warrior takes to Valley ‘like a duck to water’

Champion jockey James McDonald says Hong Kong galloper Romantic Warrior can hit back hard in the Cox Plate after thrilling him in a gallop at The Valley on Sunday.

Jockey James McDonald was all smiles after Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior had his first look at The Valley on Monday. Picture: Getty Images.

Star jockey James McDonald couldn’t hide his delight after riding his Cox Plate mount Romantic Warrior in a track gallop at The Valley on Sunday morning.

Romantic Warrior disappointed Hong Kong punters with his first-up fourth in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington but McDonald maintained the gelding would benefit from the run.

The Danny Shum-trained Romantic Warrior worked alongside stablemate Romantic Charm in Sunday’s hitout.

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James McDonald said the Cox Plate favourite relished the unique Valley circuit.

“Most importantly, he took to The Valley like a duck to water really,” McDonald said.

“He was fantastic.

“From the 1200 to the 400(m), he got into a beautiful rhythm.

“He felt brilliant on it. He cornered well, accelerated around the bend and zipped home really well.”

McDonald said Shum merely wanted Romantic Warrior to acquaint himself with The Valley in the hitout.

The jockey said Romantic Warrior said the benefit of having a Melbourne run showed as the six-year-old felt more at home at The Valley than the spacious Flemington circuit.

“He was there for a good look around and I wanted to get a feel of how he got around The Valley as well,” McDonald said.

Romantic Warrior was a well held fourth at his first Australian run in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Picture: Getty Images.

“I think he will suit Moonee Valley better than Flemington.

“He’s taken great benefit from that run and his workout this morning will bring him on again.”

Romantic Warrior finished four lengths from the brilliant winner Gold Trip in the Turnbull Stakes.

McDonald said the triple Group 1 winner had improved significantly since his last start and would continue to build fitness for his next crack at last year’s Melbourne Cup winner.

“What I’m glad about is that it’s three weeks from the Turnbull to the Cox Plate,” McDonald said.

“If it had been two weeks, we’d have been chasing our tail just a tad.

“He’s come on immensely and he just needed that first-up run so badly.

“He’s got lengths to make up on Gold Trip but it’s doable.”

Romantic Warrior is likely to have another look at The Valley at the customary ‘Breakfast with the Best’ trackwork session on the Tuesday before the Cox Plate.

Romantic Warrior sits atop TAB’s latest Cox Plate market at $4.50 ahead of Gold Trip and Saturday’s Might And Power winner Alligator Blood at $7.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Victoria Road is next in betting at $8.

Originally published as Cox Plate favourite Romantic Warrior takes to Valley ‘like a duck to water’