James McDonald gave a glowing report on Romantic Warrior after reuniting with the champion galloper at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning, while the superstar jockey also confirmed he will ride Galaxy Patch and Fast Network at the crucial November 23 meeting.

Set to start his latest Hong Kong riding stint at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, McDonald rode Romantic Warrior in a track gallop with stablemate Romantic Thor and the Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained star felt as good as ever as he prepares to return from injury.

On the comeback trail from a fetlock issue that required surgery in May, Romantic Warrior will resume in the Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) before bidding for an unprecedented fourth straight Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) victory next month.

“I jumped out of bed pretty quickly this morning, that’s for sure, especially as he was my first ride of the morning and he just looks phenomenal,” said McDonald, who has booted home Romantic Warrior in nine of his 10 Group One triumphs.

“He’s prepping up nicely. Danny’s really, really happy with him. That’s the main thing and he felt good this morning.

“He’s working every bit as good as what he was in March and he’s had a nice, slow build-up and a long break and he seems to have enjoyed that.

“A fourth Hong Kong Cup would be good, that would be for sure. That’s going to be something special to be a part of with the build-up with him.”

While Romantic Warrior will headline McDonald’s book of rides on November 23, the traditional lead-up meeting to the Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), the Kiwi rider has picked up a pair of quality mounts in Galaxy Patch for the Group Two Jockey Club Mile and Fast Network for the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m).

“I’ve competed against [Galaxy Patch] many times and he’s always been the one that’s probably hardest to beat when I’ve been riding Romantic or Voyage Bubble,” McDonald said of Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s Group One placegetter.

“He’s a good horse. I’ve always wanted to jump on his back and I finally get the opportunity.”

McDonald has not ridden Galaxy Patch previously but did boot home Dennis Yip Chor-hong’s Fast Network on his only ride on him in March.

Fresh from a successful spring carnival in Australia headlined by Via Sistina’s Group One Cox Plate (2,040m) victory, McDonald has six rides at Happy Valley with Wrote A New Page and Star Figure among his better chances.

“Danny [Shum] is very happy with Wrote A New Page, he thinks it’s his best runner of the night. Star Figure looks all right, too,” said McDonald, who will ride in Hong Kong until December 20.

A three-time Valley winner over 1,650m, Wrote A New Page contests the Class Three Hing Yip Handicap (1,800m) after a close second to the reopposing Excellence Value last start.

The Jamie Richards-trained Star Figure also bids to go one better in the second section of the Class Four Fat Tseung Handicap (1,200m) after a close second to King Oberon first up.