Luxembourg was beaten by a short head as Aidan O'Brien just missed out on the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin.
Romantic Warrior made it back-to-back wins in the city's richest race with victory, making it a trifecta of local winners.
Luxembourg made a late charge as the line came just in time for the winner.
He had not been seen since almost upsetting stablemate Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes.
"I'm so proud of this horse. He's the best horse," Romantic Warrior jockey James McDonald said.
The win rounded off an enormous 2023 for Romantic Warrior that included victory in October's Group One Cox Plate (2,040m) in Melbourne.
"He's one of the toughest horses I've ever ridden, that's what makes him so special. He's so easy to ride and he's got a heart as big as a lion. He's had the trip to Australia -- this is his best win," McDonald said.
Golden Sixty stole the show by winning the Group One Hong Kong Mile for a record-equalling third time as local horses dominated the Hong Kong International Races.
Racing for the first time since April, the eight-year-old ridden by Vincent Ho Chak-yiu blew his rivals away down the straight to finish well clear of Voyage Bubble in second.
"He's a monster. When I asked him for effort, he lengthened like I can't believe -- he's still got that turn of foot. It's crazy," Ho said.
Cairo finished 10th for the Ballydoyle handler.
France earlier posted its first victory at the carnival since 2014 in the Group One Hong Kong Vase, with the familiar combination of Andre Fabre and Maxime Guyon delivering the goods with Junko.
Fabre and Guyon won the 2014 Vase with Flintshire.
Warm Heart was a good third, three and a half lengths behind the winner.
Lucky Sweynesse didn't disappoint either, with the city's premier speedster living up to his hot favouritism to lead home a local trifecta in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint over 1,200 metres.
Aesop’s Fables failed to produce for O’Brien and Ryan Moore, finishing last in the field.
The Zac Purton-ridden Lucky Sweynesse saw off runner-up Lucky With You and reigning Sprint champion Wellington to become the first horse to win Hong Kong's four Group One sprints in the same calendar year.
"He deserved that. He's been our best sprinter for the last year and he was able to atone for last year," Purton said of Lucky Sweynesse, who had a luckless run in the same race a year ago.
