Tom Marquand up for the fight as Dubai Honour aims to halt Voyage Bubble's bid for history
Tom Marquand has huge respect for Triple Crown-seeking Voyage Bubble but thinks Dubai Honour has the right credentials to give the United Kingdom back-to-back wins in Sunday's Group One Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) at Sha Tin.
Marquand and Dubai Honour are yet to win a top-level prize back home but the pair come alive when sent abroad, winning three Group Ones in Sydney and another in France.
The Pride Of Dubai galloper finished second in December's Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) and has remained in career-best form since, landing the Group One Tancred Stakes at Rosehill (2,400m) on April 1.
Just 11 days later, Dubai Honour ran a mighty race to finish second to superstar mare Via Sistina in the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,000m) and after a month's breather back in the UK, he is back on the road.
It's a matter of honour! 👏@WilliamHaggas and @TomMarquand do it again with Dubai Honour who pops another Australian G1 on his shelf with a win in the Tancred Stakes!@aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/QcLkKmaUdL — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 1, 2025
Marquand reports the galloper to be in rude health as he prepares to emulate Rebel's Romance and win the Champions & Chater Cup for the raiders.
'I haven't been massively involved with him since his last run but Issy Paul is basically world-renowned for looking after him now – she does an amazing job,' said Marquand.
'Physically and mentally he's been doing really well and she's happy with him. That's obviously exactly what I want to be hearing. The travelling never affects him now – he's an older gelding so it doesn't faze him.
'He's got that attitude that makes it that much more straightforward – travelling is not an easy thing to do for the horses so it makes our life a lot easier.'
Affectionately known as 'Aussie Tom' for his exploits Down Under, 18-time Group One hero Marquand is yet to bag a big one in Hong Kong, but Dubai Honour is in the form of his life and could be the horse to set the record straight.
Voyage Bubble, who bids to become just the second horse to win the Hong Kong Triple Crown, is set to be a huge thorn in his side, though Marquand is looking to Rebel's Romance's performance last year to help with any doubts.
'It's been amazing really, to say he's in the form of his life would probably be fair,' said Marquand. 'The mile-and-a-half trip is definitely more his gig now and there was no disgrace going down to a mare of Via Sistina's calibre last start over a trip that was inadequate for him these days.
'With his racing style and the way he's matured – and the way he can switch off during his races – the mile and a half has just become perfect for him.
The champ Via Sistina claims the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes with ease, equalling Winx's record of 7 Group 1's in a season! 🤩 What a mare!@cwallerracing | @mcacajamez | @YulongInvest | @aus_turf_club | @WorldPool pic.twitter.com/oMBNGpAyv8 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 12, 2025
'At the top level, you need everything in your favour and no chinks in your armour, and he needs the trip for that to be the case.
'We're hoping that the stamina element could be the difference between winning and losing for us. Rebel's Romance showed last year that it can be and you need those advantages going up against a horse like Voyage Bubble.'
The promotional material has billed the race as an epic clash between one of Hong Kong's best and a foreign raider poised to spoil his big moment, with Voyage Bubble on the edge of something historic.
And although Marquand has the utmost respect for Voyage Bubble, he has every faith that his partner can do the business come Sunday.
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
'I think he's probably the one to beat. At the trip, he's the one you know that will stay and is proven at it at the highest level,' said Marquand.
'That said, you can't forget a horse like Voyage Bubble – he's a horse who performs at a high level all the time and class can stretch a horse through. It would be very naive to think that the distance alone will get him beat.
'Being involved in these types of races is a lot of fun, I – and Dubai Honour, too – have been lucky to clash against some proper champions. It's not quite as fun when you're not winning them, but it's still an enjoyable thing having a horse that's up for the challenge to take on these types of races.
'Dubai Honour and Voyage Bubble are the talking horses and the ones to beat based on the level of form they bring and the consistency.
'You can never forget a Hong Kong Derby winner like Cap Ferrat but I just think the fact these boys can boast top-level form on multiple occasions is what sets them apart and makes them such an attractive match-up.'
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