- Zheng to face injury doubt Kenin in Tokyo final
- Final-hole eagle puts Echavarria in driving seat in Japan
- Commonwealth agrees 'time has come' for talks on legacy of slavery
- Late Love helps All Blacks thrash Jones's plucky Japan
- Bastianini wins Thai MotoGP sprint race ahead of Martin
- New Zealand near historic Test win as India wilt in chase
- Tehran residents fear escalation after Israeli attacks
- Iran says two dead in Israeli strikes on military targets
- Pakistan thrash England to win series after Noman, Sajid heroics
- Harris, Trump barnstorm battlegrounds seeking to break deadlock
- Pakistan on brink of series win as Noman, Sajid destroy England
- India 81-1 in fight to deny New Zealand historic series win
- Georgia votes in key test for democracy, EU ambitions
- New Zealand sniff historic win as India set 359 to win Test
- End of golden era for Chinese investors in Bordeaux wine
- Freeman fairytale slam powers Dodgers to World Series win
- Bagnaia claims pole for Thailand MotoGP, title rival Martin third
- Israel hits Iran missiles, bases in retaliatory strikes
- Freeman slam lifts Dodgers over Yankees in World Series thriller
- Philippine rescuers battle floodwaters to reach stranded
- Georgia votes in crucial test for democracy, EU ambitions
- Beyonce boosts Harris at abortion rights rally in Texas
- Bidzina Ivanishvili: the tycoon ruling Georgia behind the scenes
- Myanmar's war approaches Mandalay a year after rebel offensive
- Decline of rural Japan not our fault, women say
- Suarez and Alba give Miami winning start in MLS Cup playoffs
- Turkish Cypriots caught in citizenship limbo on divided island
- Final campaigning in tight Japan election
- Cali's love motels adapt to host UN summit delegates
- World champion Sakamoto takes Skate Canada lead over Liu
- Sainz tops times as Russell crashes in Mexico GP practice
- Three moments from King Charles Pacific tour
- Commonwealth announces Ghana foreign minister as new secretary general
- Gaza ministry accuses Israel of storming hospital, reports two children killed
- King Charles III departs Samoa, wrapping Pacific tour
- G7 finalize $50 bn Ukraine loan backed by Russian assets profits
- Ex-Abercrombie CEO pleads not guilty to sex crimes
- Unfulfilled talent? Two-time champion Alonso clocks up 400th F1 race
- Guardiola praises 'incredible' mentality of Man City stars
- Chelsea boss Maresca wants more 'leadership' from captain James
- US issues historic apology for Native American boarding school atrocities
- Moody's cuts France outlook, opening door to credit downgrade
- Drone sparks fire on Kyiv residential building, one dead
- Gaza ministry says two children die in hospital in Israeli raid
- Wood brace fires Forest as Leicester boss Cooper loses reunion
- Dodgers draw on Bryant's 'Mamba mentality' for World Series
- 'Fascist' row overshadows glitzy night on US campaign trail
- Modern art museum breathes new life into downtown Warsaw
- Russell tops crash-hit Mexico GP practice
- Fils, Shelton set for friendly fire in Basel semi-finals
Romantic Warrior makes history with third QE II Cup win in Hong Kong
Romantic Warrior made history with a third victory in the Group One QE II Cup on Sunday while the great Golden Sixty fell short on an action-packed Champions Day at Sha Tin.
Golden Sixty, Hong Kong's most successful horse with world-record prize money of more than US $21.3 million, was unable to land a 27th career win as he finished fourth behind the Beauty Eternal in the Group One Champions Mile.
Trainer Francis Lui suggested the eight-year-old Golden Sixty had likely run his last race.
Jockey Vincent Ho said Sha Tin's yielding surface after prolonged recent rain prevented the three-time Horse of the Year from unleashing his customary finishing burst.
"He ran well. The ground was not in our favour. When I hit the straight I could already feel he could not pick up with his usual turn of foot," Ho said.
"I know it's a bit difficult. It is what it is, we can't fight the weather. I was in a great position and everything was close to the speed, but still we couldn't improve on that ground."
Beauty Eternal snared his maiden Group One success, leading throughout under champion jockey Zac Purton.
"There was no speed in the race, which gave us the opportunity to lead," said the Australian jockey.
"He just got into a lovely rhythm and controlled the race and I thought the only chance I had to beat Golden Sixty was to try to put a gap on them and see how we went and today was his day."
Danny Shum's superstar Romantic Warrior became the first horse to win the HK$28 million (US$3.6 million) QE II Cup three times, digging deep to hold off Japanese raider Prognosis by a neck over the 2,000m trip.
"I'm speechless. He's awesome," said New Zealand jockey James McDonald after winning his sixth Group One aboard Romantic Warrior.
"He was beaten at the 600m, he just finds a way. It's incredible. I dead set didn't have one thing go my way. I had 10 riders dead set against me and the horse. I just had no favours. He is incredible.
"There wasn't one part of the race I was happy with, to be honest with you. I'm just in disbelief."
David Hall's Invincible Sage was Hong Kong's other feature winner at Sha Tin's second international meeting of the season, snaring his first Group One win in the Chairman's Sprint Prize over 1,200m.
"He is up to top class now. I think a rain-affected track may have assisted his performance, but even on a dry track I think we would have seen a winning performance today," said jockey Hugh Bowman.
L.Harper--AMWN