Romantic Warrior’s special welcome home ceremony at Sha Tin on Sunday has been cancelled after scans revealed a minor issue with one of the champion galloper’s joints.
On the eve of the “Welcome Home, Our Global Champion – Romantic Warrior” event, the Jockey Club said in a statement that the 10-time Group One winner would not be paraded in front of his legion of fans.
“The club’s Veterinary Regulation, Welfare and Biosecurity Policy Department have provided advice on Romantic Warrior that the club wishes to share with his many fans,” the statement said.
“Romantic Warrior is currently spelling following his return from his races in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. The horse has returned to Hong Kong presenting extremely well and has not exhibited any signs of lameness or any other clinical issues.
“Nevertheless, consistent with the club’s world-class procedures for the care of our racehorses, a detailed physical examination has been carried out, including imaging using our veterinary hospital’s state-of-the-art equipment.
👀 Soul Rush denies Romantic Warrior in a thrilling Dubai Turf!#ソウルラッシュ | @RacingDubai pic.twitter.com/416vP8tdtJ
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“This proactive screening has enabled a very early detection of some potential changes in one of the horse’s joints. As a consequence of this systematic approach to ensuring horse welfare, a management plan has been developed that will ensure that Romantic Warrior has an extremely good prognosis of such changes being fully addressed.
“Whilst Romantic Warrior would not face any risk from the planned ceremony to welcome his return to Hong Kong, the club nevertheless believes that the ceremony is not a priority and so it will not be held tomorrow.”
Romantic Warrior returned home earlier this month after a busy Middle East campaign, which kicked off with a record-breaking win in the Group One Jebel Hatta (1,800m) in Dubai in January.
Danny Shum Chap-shing’s superstar then ran close seconds in the Group One Saudi Cup (1,800m) on dirt and Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m), taking his career earnings to a world record-extending HK$214.7 million.
He is not scheduled to race again until November’s Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m).
