Romantic Warrior pleased Hugh Bowman with a superb trial win at Sha Tin on Monday morning ahead of his return in the Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) on November 17.

Danny Shum Chap-shing’s superstar oozed class in the 1,200m dirt trial, travelling powerfully behind midfield before cruising past Victor The Winner and California Spangle when asked to stretch out in the straight.

Romantic Warrior is set to kick off his season at the Longines Hong Kong International Races lead-up meeting at Sha Tin before targeting a third consecutive win in the city’s richest race, the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m).

“The eye doesn’t lie – from where I was sitting it looked pretty good,” Bowman said. “He’s in good shape and he had a good blow after it, but he recovered quickly.

“He looks amazing, physically he’s very sound and mentally he’s the full package.”

The son of Acclamation put together an unprecedented 2023-24 campaign, collecting five top-level wins on the bounce in three different countries.

He ended his season with a monumental win in June’s Group One Yasuda Kinen (1,600m) in Tokyo and enjoyed a lengthy break before beginning his preparation for the new term.

With Bowman keeping the saddle warm for regular rider James McDonald, Romantic Warrior returned for his first trial on September 19 before having a hit out at Happy Valley on October 5.

“He’s on track,” Bowman said. “He was there to have a good workout and that’s what he did.

“He had a good break before I rode him in his first trial and then he had the longer trial and he was good, then he was better again today.

“That’s the first time I’ve trialled him on the dirt and he seemed to handle it.”

The six-year-old could be sent on an audacious dirt campaign early next year, with connections considering the Group One Saudi Cup (1,800m) and Group One Dubai World Cup (2,000m).

The Tony Cruz-trained California Spangle finished second to Romantic Warrior in Monday’s trial, with Brenton Avdulla satisfied with the Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) hero’s progress.

“I’m happy with him,” Avdulla said. “Obviously it was a pretty strongly run trial when you have Victor The Winner and Me Tsui’s horse [Candlelight Dinner] in there and I just kept him comfortable and in a good rhythm.

“I let him do a little bit without overdoing it and Romantic Warrior was pushed to get past him. I think he’s come on and he’s improving. He’s not at 100 per cent yet but he’s not far away.”

California Spangle is set to line up in the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m), where he will reoppose David Hayes’ boom sprinter Ka Ying Rising and the David Hall-trained Invincible Sage.

Invincible Sage also stepped out on Monday morning, with last season’s Group One Chariman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) winner finishing second under Bowman.

While the David Hall-trained sprinter has failed to fire on his two outings this term, Bowman was impressed with the sprinter’s work.

“That’s the happiest I’ve been this prep,” Bowman said. “That was a really good trial, he’s moving well and he felt great.”