Danny Shum Chap-shing has confirmed champion galloper Romantic Warrior will make the trip to Japan to line up in the Group One Yasuda Kinen (1,600m) at Tokyo racecourse on June 2.

Shum and owner Peter Lau Pak-fai made the call to chase more overseas riches with their superstar gelding after he added to his Group One haul in the QE II Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin on Champions Day.

After overcoming a wide run early to score a herculean triumph on April 28, Shum delayed a call on the Japan mission to see how Romantic Warrior pulled up first.

But the veteran handler was happy enough with the six-year-old’s condition and gave the trip the green light on Friday.

“He will go to Japan,” Shum said.

“He will leave around the 21st of May. He should be OK – he can be better.”

In a historic victory, Romantic Warrior became the first horse to win the QE II Cup three times with a hat-trick in the HK$28 million feature.

Star jockey James McDonald was trapped wide without cover from barrier 10 and had to make a sweeping run down the outside to lift Romantic Warrior to a stunning win.

Shum and McDonald noted the son of Acclamation was tired immediately after bravely running down Japan’s Prognosis by a neck, casting some doubt over whether he would make the trip to Japan.

But Friday’s decision gives Romantic Warrior the chance to land his second elite-level win overseas, following his thrilling Group One Cox Plate (2,040m) victory over Mr Brightside at Moonee Valley last October.

The contest, worth about HK$19.7 million in prize money, also presents another opportunity to close the gap on Golden Sixty’s all-time record of HK$167 million. Romantic Warrior has racked up HK$142.7 million in career earnings.

The Yasuda Kinen will also be a rematch between Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble, after the former narrowly beat the latter in the Group One Gold Cup (2,000m) in their first clash in February.

McDonald has been the regular rider of both gallopers, but after confirming he will maintain his successful association with Romantic Warrior, Zac Purton was booked to ride Voyage Bubble.

The Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Voyage Bubble ran third behind Beauty Eternal when ridden by McDonald in the Group One Champions Mile last start.

Before turning his attention to Japan, Shum will team up with Purton when he starts Helene Feeling in Saturday’s Class Two Hong Kong China Rugby Cup (1,600m) at Sha Tin on Saturday.

Runner up to Helios Express in the Classic Mile in February, Helene Feeling last raced when finishing ninth to Massive Sovereign in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) on March 24.