Latest news with #DeepField
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Voyage Bubble attracts Ascot invite but connections stick to local plans
Voyage Bubble's historic Triple Crown triumph prompted Ascot officials to invite the Hong Kong superstar to run in July's Group One King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,406m), but connections have knocked back the offer. Voyage Bubble gained international attention for his stunning Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) victory last month, which saw him become the first horse in 31 years and second all time to claim Hong Kong's Triple Crown. The Deep Field gelding demolished his rivals by three and a half lengths to cap an outstanding campaign that also featured Group One successes in the Hong Kong Mile, Stewards' Cup (1,600m) and Gold Cup (2,000m). While Ricky Yiu Poon-fai was honoured to receive the invite for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the veteran trainer said he wouldn't be swayed from his plan to race Voyage Bubble in Hong Kong and not return overseas. UNBELIEVABLE! 🤯 31 years since River Verdon won the #TripleCrown for the first time, Hong Kong has a second winner of the series in Voyage Bubble, who makes light work of his Champions & Chater Cup rivals... 🏆🏆🏆@WorldPool | @mcacajamez | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 25, 2025 'He's not going,' Yiu said. 'I don't think [he will race overseas again]. He's not young any more. 'He pulled up brilliant from his last run. He just went up to Conghua [on Wednesday] and he'll have four weeks of easy time there.' Voyage Bubble's two international raids went awry last year. He copped interference from a fallen horse at a crucial stage when an unlucky 10th in the Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m) at Meydan before failing to handle racing in the anticlockwise direction when 17th behind Romantic Warrior in the Group One Yasuda Kinen (1,600m) at Tokyo racecourse. A leading contender for Hong Kong Horse of the Year honours along with Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior, Voyage Bubble is likely to be set for 2,000m features such as the Group One Hong Kong Cup and Group One QE II Cup next season. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. While Romantic Warrior's future remains clouded after he underwent fetlock surgery last week, December's Hong Kong Cup could feature a blockbuster clash between Voyage Bubble and star Australian mare Via Sistina. Brilliant mare! Via Sistina equals Winx's record of seven Group 1 wins in a season with victory over Dubai Honour in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes! — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 12, 2025 A Hong Kong trip last December was mooted for Via Sistina before eventually being ruled out, but connections have already put it on the agenda for the end of this year. 'That is definitely a possibility,' Yulong Investments chief operating officer Sam Fairgray told Australian radio station RSN. 'Mr Zhang [Yuesheng] would love to be able to take her there and take on the internationals. That's definitely high on the cards for her.' Via Sistina racked up seven Group One victories for trainer Chris Waller this season, with her record-breaking eight-length blitz in the Cox Plate (2,040m) at Moonee Valley the highlight. Meanwhile, Yiu will be represented by a squad of seven runners at Sha Tin on Sunday as he bids to consolidate third place in the trainers' championship. Ricky Yiu heads to Sha Tin on Sunday with a seven-strong team. Ahren shapes as the 67-year-old's best chance after recording a dominant win at start three and an agonisingly close second to Call Me Glorious last start. However, Ahren clashes with another promising three-year-old, Jimmy Ting Koon-ho's unbeaten Little Paradise, in the Class Three Tin Wan Handicap (1,200m). 'His biggest contender is Jimmy Ting's horse. They are the top two,' Yiu said. Miracle Fighter, The Concentration, Etalon Or, Drala, Dragon Joy and Jolly Ruler are the other weekend runners for Yiu, who has prepared 48 winners this term.
News.com.au
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald chasing Gosford stand-alone feature clean sweep on Saturday
Newlyweds Annabel and Rob Archibald are in prime position to claim a lucrative clean sweep of Gosford's stand-alone riches on Saturday. The Archibalds, who tied the knot last month, have contenders in all three features, headlined by Depth Of Character ($4.40 favourite) in the Listed $500,000 The Coast (1600m). Ostraka ($9) is in the Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) while the stable launches a two-pronged attack with Naval College ($7) and Hopeful ($34) in the Listed $300,000 Gosford Gold Cup (2100m). Rob Archibald admits The Coast is 'probably a bit of an afterthought' for Depth Of Character but knows his stable has a horse in flying form. Depth Of Character is chasing a hat-trick of wins in the feature event for three and four-year-olds and races on the seven-day back-up with Tom Sherry aboard. 'He's been up for a little while but we just thought it looks a nice race for him and we will finish the prep off this run,' Archibald said. 'We were in too minds because the Rough Habit was available to lead into the Derby but we felt like he's got so much speed. 'We opted to come back to NSW and go to this race.' Depth Of Character had the ultimate gear change before this preparation and it's paid huge dividends in recent weeks. The son of Deep Field has won his past two starts in the Sunshine State, including a dominant win last start in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm. Depth Of Character continues his super Queensland form winning the Queensland Guineas for @ANeashamRacing! — 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 3, 2025 • 'He is in great form,' Archibald said. 'He obviously has to go down and handle the back-up but he's drawn well and Tom (Sherry) has done a good job on him before. 'I think a couple of the other fancied horses have drawn wide so it looks to set up well for him.' Ostraka, a winner of the Group 3 Silver Eagle last spring, carries topweight of 59kg and is chasing his first victory this preparation with four runs under his belt. The son of Pariah wasn't far away two starts ago when he finished third in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes before racing too keen in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes. A wide draw in barrier 11 will make his life tougher. 'I think we try and ride Ostraka a bit quieter than we have been,' Archibald said. 'He can be very effective smothered up and produced late. 'The last couple of starts he's just started to overdo it a touch in front so we will probably go the other way and bring him in behind them. 'Hopefully they overdo it in front and he can be challenging late.' Crikey! Naval College gets home in a close one to win the Australia Day Cup! â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 26, 2024 • Trainer's special bond turned 'slow, lazy' horse into a winner Naval College is set to be a second-up improver in the Gold Cup after finishing fourth in the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) fresh from a spell. 'I thought Naval College was excellent first-up,' Archibald said. 'That is all you could hope to see and up to the 2100m will be suitable. 'It's a difficult draw to contend with but he's in good form and should race well.' Hopeful is dropping back significantly in distance after finishing back in the pack in the Group 1 Sydney Cup last start. Soft conditions on the Central Coast will likely hold the key to the imported stayer scoring his first victory in close to three years. 'Hopeful is far more effective with the sting out of the track,' Archibald said. 'He's coming back in trip and is racing pretty well this prep so hopefully he can maintain that form.' with Asgoodassobergets ($13), Hawk Power ($34), Cormac T ($4.80), Junebug ($10), Trapalanda ($21) and Tenniel ($23). The stable is chasing a fifth straight Group 2 AD Hollindale Stakes (1800m) with Fawkner Park ($9), Bois D'argent ($15) and Port Lockroy ($21).
