Romantic Warrior tuned up for his shot at history in the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) with a superb trial win at Sha Tin as Global Harmony passed his first test on the road to redemption.

Danny Shum Chap-shing’s champion Romantic Warrior starred in a 1,600m trial on Tuesday, storming home from last under little pressure from Hugh Bowman to beat Stunning Peach by a short head.

The six-time Group One winner proved he is on track for his bid to create history in the QE II Cup on April 28. No galloper has won the race three times and he was victorious in 2022 and last year.

Bowman, who will hand the reins on Romantic Warrior back to James McDonald on race day, was impressed by the six-year-old’s trial.

“He does feel good,” Bowman said. “I think he’s a bit more calm now as we get later in the season.

“I trialled him before his last victory and he was pretty precocious that day, but he was really relaxed this morning and worked up his last 400m really comfortably and had a good blow subsequently, so I’m sure he’ll make his presence felt when he runs at the end of the month.”

Romantic Warrior is also chasing a fourth straight triumph after claiming the Group One Cox Plate (2,040m) at Moonee Valley, Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) and Group One Gold Cup (2,000m) this season.

He joined Designs On Rome, Vengeance Of Rain and River Verdon in conquering Hong Kong’s quartet of 2,000m majors after his Gold Cup victory in February.

Global Harmony ran fourth behind Romantic Warrior in the trial – his first official outing since refusing to jump from the barriers in consecutive races in January and February.

Stewards slapped the enigmatic galloper with an embargo from racing for four months, while also forcing him to trial at least five consecutive times to their satisfaction.

David Hayes was relieved when the impressive two-time winner jumped from the barrier successfully under Karis Teetan.

“He jumped well and that’s stage one. Four more [trials] to go,” Hayes said. “We’re not serious about trying in the trials, it’s just about getting him out of the gates.

“He’s got to pass one more at a mile and then he’s got three other trials anywhere, so stage one is done. It’s always nervous but I’m happy.”

Hayes revealed Global Harmony has been trained most recently at Beas River Country Club, utilising the riding school facilities for showjumping and dressage work.

“We got special permission to train him out there, so he’s not in the racing environment and we’re trying to switch his brain,” Hayes said.

“At Conghua, he was playing up but this routine is working. We’ll do exactly the same into the Valley, he’ll trial on the 19th [of April] and that’s stage two. Then we’ll pick another trial out after that, probably on the dirt.”

Group One winner Little Brose also won a trial on Tuesday for Hayes and Bowman as he prepares to launch his Hong Kong career. The Per Incanto colt won the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes (1,200m) at Sandown last year when trained by Hayes’ sons, Ben and JD, in Australia.