Bet the Champions and Chater Cup 2026: Can Romantic Warrior Complete Hong Kong's Triple Crown?
Horse racing history is on the line at Sha Tin Racecourse this Sunday, May 24, as Romantic Warrior bids to complete the Hong Kong Triple Crown in the Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup. The HK$13 million Group 1 over 2,400 meters is the final leg of the series — and only two horses have ever completed the treble. MyWinners opens betting on Saturday, with the race going off in the early hours of Sunday morning ET.
What Is the Hong Kong Triple Crown?
The Hong Kong Triple Crown comprises three elite Group 1 races at Sha Tin: the Stewards' Cup over 1,600 meters, the Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2,000 meters, and the Champions and Chater Cup over 2,400 meters. Each leg is worth HK$13 million, and the horse that wins all three earns a HK$10 million bonus on top. The feat is extraordinarily rare — since the series was established in its current format, only River Verdon (1994) and Voyage Bubble (2025) have ever pulled it off. Voyage Bubble sealed his own Triple Crown just last year, making this a genuine piece of living history if Romantic Warrior can follow suit.
Romantic Warrior's Road to the Triple Crown
Romantic Warrior has already banked the first two legs this season with characteristic ease. He claimed the Stewards' Cup over 1,600 meters in January, then delivered a dominant four-length demolition in the Hong Kong Gold Cup in March — his record-extending 13th Group 1 victory. To put his career in perspective, Romantic Warrior is the highest-earning racehorse in history, with north of HK$254 million in prize money, and has won Group 1 races in Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, and Dubai. He is trained by Danny Shum Chap-shing with James McDonald aboard for all 16 of his victories. He then went on to win an unprecedented fourth QEII Cup on Champions Day in April, with trainer Shum describing the field as the strongest in 15 to 20 years.
The One Question Mark: The 2,400-Meter Trip
For all his brilliance, Romantic Warrior's record at 2,400 meters gives rivals hope. He has run at this trip exactly once before — in the 2023 Champions and Chater Cup — and was beaten by a nose by Russian Emperor after Zac Purton pushed him to the front early. The extra two furlongs beyond his preferred 2,000 meters can find him out late, and his rivals have specifically targeted this race to exploit that. Expect him to be priced around -600, reflecting his dominance but acknowledging the stamina question.
Key Rivals to Watch
Romantic Warrior faces eight rivals on Sunday. The three most significant threats are:
Voyage Bubble
Last year's winner and defending Triple Crown champion. The seven-year-old returned from a capped elbow issue to race on Champions Day and connections confirmed this race as his target. He has already proven he can beat Romantic Warrior over this trip.
Rousham Park
The Japanese challenger finished fifth behind Romantic Warrior in last year's Hong Kong Cup and trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka believes significant improvement is expected here. Japanese raiders have a solid record in Hong Kong's staying races.
Deep Monster
A second Japanese raider, Deep Monster arrives in form off a Group 1 win in Qatar earlier this year and provides further depth to a quality nine-runner field.
Race Details
The Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup takes place at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Post time is approximately 4:00 AM ET. MyWinners opens betting on Saturday. The race is run on turf over 2,400 meters under weight-for-age conditions, with a total prize pool of HK$13 million.
Bet on the Champions and Chater Cup at MyWinners
MyWinners offers pari-mutuel betting on international racing including Hong Kong's biggest events. Don't miss the chance to be part of history if Romantic Warrior completes one of horse racing's rarest feats.
Bet online at app.mywinners.com, on the MyWinners: Racing & Sports app on iOS or Android, or go here to find your nearest MyWinners or Winners venue in CT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Image © MinusRT / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)
