Hong Kong's アイロンをかける Man trainer chasing history with favourite Romantic 軍人 who can become just the second Asian horse to 勝利，勝つ Cox Plate

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Hong Kong trainer Danny Shum is lapping up the international スポットライト as he 始める，決めるs out to create history with favourite Romantic 軍人 in Saturday's $5 million Cox Plate.

The 注目する，もくろむs of the racing world are on Shum - known at home as 'アイロンをかける Man' because of his unrivalled work ethic - and Hong Kong's 首相 middle-distance galloper.

A three-time Group 1 勝利者 over 2000m, Romantic 軍人 arrives at The Valley with a 抱擁する 評判 and is primed to 取り組む Australasia's 負わせる-for-age 選手権 over 2040m.

But there have only been three northern 半球-trained 勝利者s of the Cox Plate and one from Asia - Japanese 星／主役にする Lys Gracieux in 2019 - in the century-old race's history.

The son of Acclamation 直面するs stiff 競争 from the likes of Gold Trip, last year's Melbourne Cup 勝利者, 同様に as old 競争相手s Alligator 血 and Mr Brightside.

Romantic 軍人's trainer Danny Shum has earned the 愛称?'アイロンをかける Man' because of his unrivalled work ethic

James McDonald will be looking to use every bit of Shum's experience when he rides Romantic 軍人 in the Cox Plate

'It's a big 圧力 but it's a 動機づけ,' Shum said.

'I like to take the 圧力. My 愛称 is 'アイロンをかける Man' in Hong Kong, so 圧力 for me is not a problem.

'Hong Kong people love to watch the Cox Plate, 特に with Romantic Warri or in the race. It brings me a lot of 動機づけ 同様に.

'It's a 広大な／多数の／重要な honour to come here. It's a really 広大な／多数の／重要な honour to send a horse to run in the Cox Plate, one of the most major races in Australia.

'If I can 勝利，勝つ I can create history. That's good for me, good for Hong Kong (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手 Club and Australian (racing) 同様に.'

Shum said Romantic 軍人 has 改善するd to '90 to 95 per cent' fit since placing fourth first-up in the Group 1 Turnbull 火刑／賭けるs and 主張するs Cox Plate favouritism is 正当化するd.

Romantic 軍人 will jump from 障壁 seven under 最高の，を越す (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手 James McDonald, who 棒 Anamoe to Cox Plate glory last year.

'If he can settle, get some cover, he'll 攻撃する，衝突する the line 堅固に,' Shum said.

'He'll 扱う the sharp turn, he's got a big chance to 勝利，勝つ the Cox Plate.

'I think he should be the favourite, によれば his form, he should be the favourite.'

Rebecca Shanks riding Alligator 血 from the Waterhouse and Bott racing team during a beach trackwork 開会／開廷／会期 at Altona Beach

Gold Trip will be another big chance in the Cox Plate after finishing third in a tight finish in the Caulfield Cup

Romantic 軍人 was a $3.80 favourite on Friday, with Alligator 血 ($6) and Mr Brightside ($7) also の中で the 主要な 競争相手s.

Mr Brightside had won five straight races before running second as favourite to Chris Waller's Fangirl in the Group 1 King Charles III 火刑／賭けるs last start.

Fangirl and Gold Trip were both $8 Cox Plate chances on Friday.

Trainer Ben Hayes pointed to Mr Brightside's form at The Valley - three 勝利，勝つs from four starts - as 原因（となる） for 楽観主義 and 解任するd questions over the gelding's ability to cover the 2040m trip.

'障壁 two gives him every 適切な時期 to do that, he should have a nice soft run,' Hayes said.

'All I can say is the horse is in fantastic order ... and he's got a real chance. The stable is very 確信して.'

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