James McDonald’s fingerprints have been all over Romantic Warrior’s Australian adventure, and trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing will head to the Group One Cox Plate (2,040m) barrier draw on Tuesday morning with clear instructions from the superstar Kiwi jockey.

A little different to most, the Cox Plate barrier draw sees a horse drawn from a pot before connections select the gate they want from those that remain.

With owner Peter Lau Pak-fai unable to attend, Shum will select Romantic Warrior’s barrier with the help of reigning Cox Plate champion McDonald’s expertise.

“I have to [be at the barrier draw] because the owner isn’t coming. I’ve asked James already, and he’s ranked them for me,” said Shum, keeping the order to himself but agreeing that “three to eight” would be a decent result.

While a host of the Cox Plate’s leading chances will gallop at Tuesday morning’s Breakfast with the Best media event, Romantic Warrior was put through his paces by McDonald at Moonee Valley on Monday morning.

“It actually felt like he’s been here a hundred times the way he gets around this track. It’s incredible,” McDonald told racing.com after the hit-out.

“He’s so well balanced around this bend, and he quickens off it. And he’s doing it with plenty in hand. We’re going really well. We’ve improved with the three weeks between runs, and he’s a happy horse.

“He’s in good order, so we’re quietly confident going into Saturday that we’ve made enough improvement to be competitive.”

Before he attempts to bag a second consecutive Cox Plate victory aboard Romantic Warrior on Saturday – he snared last year’s race with Anamoe – McDonald will team up with Shum at a far less likely arena – Geelong Racecourse.

Romantic Charm lines up in the Brandt Colac BM70 Handicap (1,700m) on Wednesday – he’s the early favourite – and much like he did with Romantic Warrior’s campaign Down Under, it was McDonald who chose which race his ownermate and travelling companion would tackle.

Winner of the 2021 Group Two Sandown Guineas (1,600m) before moving to Hong Kong, Romantic Charm was last seen running second in a Class Three 1,400m contest at Sha Tin in July.

McDonald, who has ridden Romantic Charm twice in Hong Kong without success, pilots the five-year-old from gate two, and the galloper will have to lug 61 kilograms (134.5 pounds).

Sweynesse ‘just needs racing’

Zac Purton is confident Lucky Sweynesse remains on track to fire when it matters most after the world’s best sprinter went under for the second time this season at Sha Tin on Sunday.

After failing as the $1.2 favourite first up in the Class One HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1,200m), Lucky Sweynesse proved no match for Sight Success in the Class Two Premier Bowl (1,200m) at $1.4 on the weekend.

On both occasions, however, the three-time Group One winner has had to carry top weight of 135 pounds and give significant advantages to his opponents, something that will now change with the handicap sprints on the path to the Longines Hong Kong International Races behind us.

“It’s just the weight. He’s not fit, and he’s carrying top weight against some handy horses. It is what it is at this time of the season. It’s just not that easy. He just needs racing. He’ll be fine,” Purton said.

Lucky Sweynesse will now turn his attention to defending his crown in the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) on November 19 before looking to add December 10’s Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) to his CV.

While Manfred Man Ka-leung’s Lucky Sweynesse will have to give five pounds to most of his Jockey Club Sprint rivals as a Group One winner in the past 12 months, it’ll be a far cry from the 20 pounds (Shum-prepared Victor The Winner) and 14 pounds (John Size-trained Sight Success) he’s given his two recent conquerors.