The Romantic Warrior quandary

With Darcy Cosgriff and Ben Sporle

Romantic Warrior’s much anticipated attempt on the Cox Plate is expected to heavily skew S-TAB betting on the race via the World Pool.

The World Pool is to be conducted on the Cox Plate, as it was to record effect last week in the Caulfield Cup, with the massive interest in Hong Kong’s champion likely to be portrayed in World Pool figures.

The Cox Plate the race connections of Romantic Warrior are after and punters in Hong Kong are expected to follow in numbers beyond those recorded in his Australian debut in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.

In the World Pool market on the race, Romantic Warrior firmed from $1.75 to $1.50 but on fixed odds in Australia, eased from $1.90 to $2.50 before finishing fourth.

A creation of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the World Pool brings together 25 co-mingled tote pools including those of Victoria and NSW.

The expected betting interest on Romantic Warrior will impact the price of other runners just as it did in the Turnbull when the winner Gold Trip eased to $31 on S-TAB but held firm at $19 on the fixed price.

“We saw at Romantic Warrior’s first Australian run that massive support from Hong Kong punters created inflated odds about most of the other runners in the race, that’s a win for punters. If you think Romantic Warrior is a risk in the Cox Plate then the World Pool is likely to present greater value than fixed odds," TAB spokesman Gerad Daffy sadi.

“So, if you like Romantic Warrior you can take the fixed odds now, and if you think he’s going to be some kind of risk there’s going to be opportunity for others on the tote world pool.

“It’s another example of why the World Pools concept is proving a massive hit with TAB customers and has punters across every track talking.”

The flood of money for Romantic Warrior, who has an elite 124 rating already this year, makes his attempt on history on that more mouth-watering as he has a pile of history to overcome.

The David Oughton-trained Cape of Good Hope is the only Hong Kong horse to win in Australia when claiming the 2005 G1 Australia Stakes at The Valley.

Romantic Warrior’s fourth in the Turnbull Stakes was the 48th Hong Kong starter since River Verdon broke new ground and traveled to Australia in 1994. River Verdon tried to win the Cox Plate himself and finished 11th behind Solvit while only two horses have tried since including Elegant Fashion in 2004 who finished 9th and Super Kid the following year clocking in 7th.

Danny Shum is the first Hong Kong trainer to travel a horse to Australia in eight years since John Moore traveled his stayer Dominant for the autumn carnival in Sydney in 2015.

Hong Kong trained horses to race in Australia:

1994

River Verdon - 11^th G1 Cox Palte

River Verdon - 20^th G1 Melbourne Cup

1995

Makarpura Star - 3^rd G3 Coongy Handicap

2002

Able Choice - 2^nd Listed McKenzie Stakes

Helene Vitality - 8^th G2 Craiglee Stakes

Able Choice - 4^th G2 Ascot Vale Stakes

Helene Vitality - 13^th G1 Underwood Stakes

Able Choice - 11^th G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude

Able Choice - 7^th Listed Concept Sports Stakes

Helene Vitality - 4^th G2 Turnbull Stakes

Helene Vitality - 12^th G1 Caulfield Cup

Helene Vitality - 21^st G1 Melbourne Cup

2004

All Thrills Too - 14^th G3 Bobbie Lewis

All Thrills Too - 11^th G3 Gilgai Stakes

All Thrills Too - 14^th G1 Caulfield Sprint

Elegant Fashion - 9^th G1 Cox Plate

Elegant Fashion - 4^th G1 Mackinnon Stakes

2005

Cape of Good Hope - 3^rd G1 Lightning Stakes

Cape of Good Hope - 1^st G1 Australia Stakes

Super Kid - 2^nd HCAP Caulfield

Super Kid - 2^nd G1 Toorak Handicap

Super Kid - 7^th G1 Cox Plate

Super Kid - 10^th G1 Mackinnon Stakes

Cape of Good Hope - 3^rd HCAP Flemington

Always Flying - 9^th Listed Lexus Stakes

Cape of Good Hope - 3^rd G2 The Age Classic

Always Flying - 3^rd HCAP Sandown

Always Flying - 3^rd HCAP Flemington

2006

Cape of Good Hope - 3^rd G1 Lightning Stakes

2007

Growl - 8^th G2 Crystal Mile

Growl - 6^th G3 Eclipse Stakes

2009

Forerver Fight - 4^th HCAP Cranbourne

2010

Mr Medici - 6^th G1 Caulfield Cup

Mr Medici - 10^th G1 Melbourne Cup

2011

Happy Zero - 6^th G3 McEwen Stakes

Silver Grecian - 6^th G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes

Mighty High - 3^rd HCAP Caulfield

Happy Zero - 7^th G1 Manikato Stakes

Mighty High - 4^th G1 Caulfield Stakes

Mighty High - 17^th G1 Caulfield Cup

Silver Grecian - 10^th G2 Crystal Mile

Happy Zero - 11^th G3 Chatham Stakes

Bear Hero - 10^th G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes

2013

Lucky Nine - 2^nd G1 Manikato Stakes

Lucky Nine - 6^th G1 VRC Sprint Classic

2015

Dominant - 5^th G1 Ranvet Stakes

Dominant - 6^th G1 Sydney Cup

2023

Romantic Warrior - 4^th G1 Turnbull Stakes

Romantic Charm - 4^th HCAP Geelong