Ricky Yiu is all too familiar with the handling of elite talents and the 67-year-old trainer is excited to saddle Voyage Bubble and Straight Arron in search of Group 1 glory on FWD Champions Day – Sunday, 27 April at Sha Tin.
Four-time Hong Kong Champion Sprinter (2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10 & 2010/11) Sacred Kingdom is Yiu’s standout across his training career which began in 1995/96. He trained Fairy King Prawn, Amber Sky and Ultra Fantasy to top-level wins, while Voyage Bubble – his stable’s current banner horse – has won four Group 1 races as well as the 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby and 2023 Hong Kong Classic Mile.
Voyage Bubble has won four Group 1 races across his career (Pic – HKJC)
Voyage Bubble has dominated this season’s mile and middle-distance divisions, especially with Romantic Warrior campaigning overseas, and the six-year-old by Deep Field is chasing a fourth consecutive Group 1 win in the HK$24 million Gr1 FWD Champions Mile.
Owned by the Sunshine And Moonlight Syndicate, Voyage Bubble has won this term’s HK$36 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, HK$13 million Gr1 Stewards’ Cup, HK$13 million Gr1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup and HK$5.35 million Gr2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile – all from five appearances throughout a dominant 2024/25 campaign.
If successful on Sunday, Voyage Bubble will have prevailed in all Group 1 races run over 1600m staged each season in Hong Kong. In preparation, Yiu’s galloper finished first in a barrier trial over a mile on turf in 1m 36.68s on Tuesday, 8 April, at Sha Tin.
“He’s fine. He’s had trials over a mile at Conghua and Sha Tin. He’s in good hands and I can’t fault him at this stage,” Yiu said. “He’s a good eater and a very happy horse. I think he’s ready to race any time.”
Nine-time Group 1 winner Mr Brightside leads the opposition. Overseas runners Gaia Force, Lake Forest and Goemon have all been selected to run in the FWD Champions Mile as have the likes of Galaxy Patch, Beauty Eternal and four-year-old My Wish.
“We’re really looking forward to his run on the 27th. I think he’ll do well again, that’s for sure. We’re running on our home track, so we have a little bit of an advantage. Mr Brightside will have to travel to Hong Kong from Australia and it’s not easy for overseas horses to adapt but anything can happen,” Yiu said.
Victorious in the first two legs of Hong Kong’s Triple Crown – Stewards Cup and Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup – Voyage Bubble may attempt to become the second Triple Crown triumphant in Hong Kong racing history after River Verdon (1993/94) by contesting the third and final leg – 25 May’s stamina testing HK$13 million Gr1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup.
Triple Crown glory offers a HK$10 million bonus to connections of the successful horse. Two-time Class 2 winner Sunlight Power is also expected to represent Yiu in the FWD Champions Mile.
Straight Arron astounded at odds of 33/1 with victory in March’s HK$5.35 million Gr2 Chairman’s Trophy for Yiu. The Fastnet Rock gelding takes aim at the HK$28 million Gr1 FWD QEII Cup for the handler.
“It was a bit of a surprise winning over the mile but he won well. We’ll run him over 2000 metres, which is a distance he can really perform at,” Yiu said.
“I’m really happy with how he pulled up and we’re looking forward to seeing him run. He’ll be close – he’s a very good horse with quality.”
Straight Arron has won five times from 25 starts in Hong Kong. He was under a length away from victory in the 2023 Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup behind Romantic Warrior.
Straight Arron wins the Chairman’s Trophy at Sha Tin (Pic – HKJC)
With 37 wins this season, Yiu saddles Eason in the first section of the Class 3 Violet Handicap at Happy Valley on Wednesday. Hugh Bowman is booked to ride from gate three.
“Hugh Bowman has had a few rides on this horse since I got him. He’s been really performing and he’s knocking on the door. He enjoys Happy Valley and the jockey knows him well – he’s consistent,” Yiu said.
Eason has won five times in Hong Kong. The chestnut gelding has twice missed by a head this season for Yiu. Giant Leap represents the trainer in the second section of the Class 3 Violet Handicap under Andrea Atzeni from barrier nine.
“He won in good style in Class 4. Now we move up to Class 3 but it’s a small field. He’s a very honest and consistent horse, I would think he’ll be in the money again,” Yiu said.
Wednesday’s nine-race fixture at Happy Valley commences at 12h40 with the Class 5 Aster Handicap.
