THE recent announcement of the retirement of Acclamation (Royal Applause) from stallion duties was followed, far too quickly, by the news of his death. It was so appropriate that he should be paid a further tribute with the 17th racecourse success for his outstanding son Romantic Warrior, the six-year-old taking the honours for a record third time in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin.

In doing so, Romantic Warrior takes on the mantle of being the biggest prizemoney winner in the history of racing, this figure increasing to an astonishing £17,891,000. He has only been beaten on five occasions, finishing second three times at Group 1 level, and fourth twice, once in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.