While underscoring his status as Hong Kong’s premier miler, Voyage Bubble claimed a second straight HK$13 million Gr1 Stewards’ Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon for jockey James McDonald and trainer Ricky Yiu, and also had the champagne corks popping 12000km away at Glyn and Judy Davies’ Pendenra Stud in the beautiful Robertson valley.
The Hong Kong Triple Crown opening leg victory by Voyage Bubble provided an important update to the catalogue page of Pendenra Stud’s CRS Summer Sale lot 31, Duke Of Lorraine.
The attractive, tall and athletic colt, a half brother to black-type winner Maria Querol and six-time winner Maria Corolina, is by Ridgemont star Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) out of the Dynasty mare, Maria Theresa.
The eyecatching Sunday winner Voyage Bubble is out of Raheights, a ¾ sister to Duke Of Lorraine’s Aussie-bred granddam , A Star For Maria (Noverre).
Receiving a smooth passage throughout, six-year-old Voyage Bubble settled behind leaders California Spangle and Beauty Eternal after breaking from barrier four. Turning for home, Voyage Bubble quickly made ground to hit the lead with 400m left to run.
“I reckon this is the best he’s felt since I’ve ridden him. He strode around to the start with a real purpose and he’s such an easy horse to read,” McDonald said. “He’s superb. He’s just bomb proof, jumps fast, puts himself in a good position and quickens.”
James McDonald guides Voyage Bubble to victory (Pic – HKJC)
This is Voyage Bubble’s third Grade 1 success after wins in this race last year and last month’s HK$36 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile.
The uncomplicated Deep Field gelding – owned by the Sunshine And Moonlight Syndicate – now boasts nine wins from 23 starts and earnings of HK$77.87 million. Among his triumphs is a 45/1 success in the 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m).
“When he’s got a real pep in his step, he’s on song and he’s a privilege to ride,” said McDonald, who also won today’s HK$1.17 million Class 4 Beat The Clock Handicap aboard Blazing Wind and HK$1.86 million Class 3 Mr Vitality Handicap atop Four-Year-Old Classic Series aspirant Bundle Award.
Voyage Bubble – rated 128 – clocked 1m 33.58s in winning ahead of a closing Galaxy Patch (second), Red Lion (third), Beauty Joy (fourth), Beauty Eternal (fifth), Chancheng Glory (sixth), Patch Of Theta (seventh) and California Spangle (eighth).
“I’m going to watch the replay a few times, that was a good race to watch. He seems to do his job a little bit easier every time and you can see he’s improving still with every race. He’s just a really talented horse and he’s very straightforward to ride,” Yiu said.
The Stewards’ Cup is the first leg of the Triple Crown which carries a HK$10 million bonus on offer to any horse who can also win the HK$13 million Gr1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup on 23 February and HK$13 million Gr1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup on 25 May.
“We’re going to give the Triple Crown a crack. Besides his Derby win, he was second to a very good horse (Romantic Warrior) in the Gold Cup last year. That’s a very good indication that he can go up to that distance no problem,” Yiu said.
Yiu scooped a double at Sha Tin, earlier winning the HK$1.17 million Class 4 Peniaphobia Handicap with Sky Joy.
River Verdon (1993/94) is the only Triple Crown winner in Hong Kong racing history.
Voyage Bubble (2024 & 2025) joins Always Plentiful (1985 & 1986), Electronic Unicorn (2002 & 2003) and Good Ba Ba (2008 & 2009) as the fourth horse to claim consecutive Stewards’ Cups.
- Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley this Wednesday 22 January.
