James McDonald has been booked to ride Beauty Bolt in next month’s Classic Mile as the world’s best jockey prepares for another shot at history with champion galloper Romantic Warrior.

Beauty Bolt’s owners, the Kwok family, swooped on McDonald after eight-time Hong Kong champion Zac Purton opted to ride Sagacious Life in the first leg of the four-year-old series.

One of seven rides under consideration by Purton, the Tony Cruz-trained Beauty Bolt has finished in the first four in all seven local starts which include a pair of victories at Sha Tin.

The Irish import struck over the mile in November and followed up with two agonisingly close seconds, beaten by fellow Classic Series contenders Dazzling Fit and Invincible Ibis.

“Patrick Kwok got in touch with me and I had a bit of success for them in my latest stint up there on Fit For Beauty, so I was rapt to get the call,” McDonald, the 2025 Longines World’s Best Jockey, said.

“He’s very, very consistent and a very honest horse. He tries very hard and he makes his own luck, so he’s got a lot going for him.”

Another key booking in the fallout from Purton’s decision is French star Maxime Guyon on Top Dragon, an impressive three-time winner and last-start third behind Sagacious Life.

McDonald said his Beauty Bolt booking was just for the Classic Mile on February 1, but the Kiwi is keen to also ride in the other two legs – the Classic Cup (1,800m) on March 1 and HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) on March 22 – if the right opportunity presents itself.

McDonald will be back in Hong Kong next week to again team up with Romantic Warrior, who launches his Triple Crown bid in the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m).

The Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained champion, who won a record-extending fourth consecutive Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) last month under McDonald, warmed up for Sunday week’s feature with a strong trial win on Tuesday.

“He trialled well, so we’re looking forward to that. The mile’s fine. It could be seven furlongs, I wouldn’t worry about it. He’s very adaptable,” McDonald said of the 11-time Group One victor.

Owner Peter Lau Pak-fai turned his focus to Hong Kong’s Triple Crown after deciding not to send Romantic Warrior back to Saudi Arabia for next month’s US$20 million (HK$155.9 million) Saudi Cup (1,800m) on dirt.

The Triple Crown, which also features the Group One Gold Cup (2,000m) and Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m), is also the aim for Voyage Bubble, who became the first galloper in 31 years to win the three-leg series last year.

McDonald will also team up again with Fast Network in Sunday week’s Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m), with the Dennis Yip Chor-hong-trained sprinter fresh from a solid third to 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 said.

Fast Network has emerged as one of the city’s most promising sprinters behind the all-conquering Ka Ying Rising, having won October’s Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m) before recent placings in the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) and Hong Kong Sprint.