Voyage Bubble can join elite group with Group One mile clean sweep
Ricky Yiu Poon-fai is adamant Voyage Bubble is on track to join an elite group of gallopers by clean sweeping Hong Kong's three Group One miles in a season when he tackles Sunday's Champions Mile.
A brilliant winner of the Group One Hong Kong Mile and Group One Stewards' Cup in a stellar campaign, Voyage Bubble can join the likes of Golden Sixty (2020-21), Beauty Generation (2018-19), Able Friend (2014-15) and Good Ba Ba (2007-08) in dominating Hong Kong's top mile features.
Yiu's stable star chases a fifth consecutive victory on Sunday, having also claimed the Group Two Jockey Club Mile first up and Group One Gold Cup (2,000m) last start in February.
'Voyage Bubble had a nice break and seems to still be a fresh horse,' Yiu said.
CLASS PREVAILS! 🙌
Aiming to become the second horse to win Hong Kong's #TripleCrown after River Verdon in 1993/94, Voyage Bubble captures the second leg - @Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup - with @mcacajamez at Sha Tin... 🏆@WorldPool | #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/ZauVUYRIWc — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025
'He had two barrier trials, one in Conghua and one in Hong Kong, and did both of them well and respectably.
'He just seems to keep improving, doesn't he? He's so relaxed and that makes him capable of running over the mile and further. It would not be surprising if he ran well over 2,400m – he's so relaxed.'
Yiu isn't concerned by a wide draw in barrier 10, with the veteran handler hopeful superstar Kiwi jockey James McDonald can settle Voyage Bubble midfield and with cover.
The six-year-old headlines an outstanding edition of the Champions Mile which also features nine-time Australian Group One winner Mr Brightside, fellow Australian Group One victor Royal Patronage, Japan's Gaia Force and other leading local hopes in Galaxy Patch and My Wish.
'I will leave [tactics] to the jockey – somewhere behind the main pace would be good,' Yiu said.
'Mr Brightside is a big contender. Of the local horses I like My Wish. His last few runs were phenomenal.'
Voyage Bubble, who ran third to Beauty Eternal in last year's Champions Mile, could be set for another slice of history if he progresses to the Group One Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) next month.
That would give him the chance to join the only winner of Hong Kong's Triple Crown in River Verdon, who won the Stewards' Cup, Gold Cup and Champions & Chater Cup in 1993-94.
'The way he shows us everything, we're pretty optimistic he'll handle the 2,400m in the Champions & Chater,' Yiu said.
'I would rather put him in over the mile [than Sunday's QE II Cup over 2,000m] – this is an easier task for him. He's had a quicker break and two months since his last start.'
Yiu will also be hoping to cause another major upset in Sunday's Group One QE II Cup with Straight Arron, who is fresh from a shock victory in the Group Two Chairman's Trophy (1,600m).
The six-year-old defied his $34.5 quote to storm home from last and narrowly beat Galaxy Patch.
'Straight Arron surprised everyone last time, he's done very well since and he's a horse who is still full of beans,' Yiu said. 'He'll run well in the QE II.'
Matthew Poon Ming-fai retains the ride on Straight Arron after celebrating his career-best success in the Chairman's Trophy.
Straight Arron ran a distant 10th in last year's QE II Cup behind Romantic Warrior for trainer Caspar Fownes when he was checked at the 1,400m. He joined Yiu's stable at the end of last season.
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