Latest news with #DubaiHonour
South China Morning Post
24-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Tom Marquand up for the fight as Dubai Honour aims to halt Voyage Bubble's bid for history
The 27-year-old is hoping to break his Group One duck in Hong Kong on the four-time top-level scorer 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 — 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 — 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 — 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.'
South China Morning Post
22-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
The Champions & Chater Cup by the numbers
Rebel's Romance becomes the first overseas winner of the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m). Photo: Kenneth Chan The final Group One of the Hong Kong season is not always the most thrilling of elite-level contests but the scene is certainly set for a bumper 2025 edition of the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m). With big-name globetrotter Dubai Honour in town and Voyage Bubble alive in the Triple Crown, fans are expecting fireworks at Sha Tin on Sunday. Here's the race by the numbers: 1 – The number of horses to have started the Champions & Chater Cup alive in the Triple Crown since River Verdon completed the coveted sweep in 1994. After wins in the Group One Stewards' Cup (1,600m) and Group One Gold Cup (2,000m), Ambitious Dragon fell just short of Triple Crown glory in 2012, running second to Liberator by a length and a half. Golden Sixty twice did the Stewards' Cup-Gold Cup double but never made the step out to 12 furlongs. All-time LEGEND of Hong Kong racing! 🧡 The trailblazing River Verdon is the city's only #TripleCrown winner in history, completing the stamina testing three-race challenge in 1993/94... 🏆🏆🏆#FlashbackFriday | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 16, 2025 10 – The number of gallopers expected to run in this weekend's Group One, which would be the race's equal-biggest field in the past 20 years. While 12 gallopers were entered for the contest, Dennis Yip Chor-hong removed Noisy Boy early this week, not wanting to run his Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m) runner-up off a rating of just 86, and Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained dirt specialist Sword Point came out on Wednesday. 5 – Cap Ferrat is looking to join the quintet of horses to have done the Hong Kong Derby-Champions & Chater Cup double in the same season since Hong Kong racing turned professional in the early 1970s. If the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained Cap Ferrat can back up his March victory in the city's most prestigious race, he will join Co-Tack (1983), River Verdon (1991), Makarpura Star (1995), Vengeance Of Rain (2005) and Viva Pataca (2006) in completing the increasingly rare double. After delivering the goods in the Derby, Australian jockey Craig Williams again jets in to partner Cap Ferrat. HISTORY AT SHA TIN! 👏👏@CWilliamsJockey wins the 148th @BMW Hong Kong Derby aboard Cap Ferrat for trainer Francis Lui over a fast-closing My Wish... #4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 23, 2025 3 – The number of seconds Romantic Warrior ran during the 2023 Triple Crown, trailing Golden Sixty home in the first two legs before being pipped by Russian Emperor in the finale. There will be a Romantic Warrior flavour at Sha Tin this Sunday, however, with the Jockey Club putting on a welcome home ceremony for the 10-time Group One winner after his three-race campaign in the Middle East. In town to partner Voyage Bubble, James McDonald will sit atop Romantic Warrior as he parades for fans at 3.10pm. 6 – Barrier stats are always going to be skewed for a race prone to small fields but for what it's worth, gate one has provided the most Champions & Chater Cup winners since 1995 with six. Barriers four and seven follow close behind with five winners, while no other alley has thrown up more than three victors. It's the visitor, Dubai Honour, who jumps from the inside stall on Sunday, while Ensued has gate four and Cap Ferrat seven. Winning Dragon looks the potential leader from the outside alley of 10, while Voyage Bubble is poised to get the dream run from stall three. Rebel's Romance is just too good! The boys in blue land the @StanChart Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin... 🏆 #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 26, 2024 1 – On storming to victory in the race a year ago, Rebel's Romance became the first overseas winner of the Champions & Chater Cup. After running second behind Giavellotto in December's Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m), Dubai Honour looks very well placed to become the second. Overseas fixed-odds markets have local hero Voyage Bubble a $1.65 favourite and Dubai Honour a $2.75 second elect. 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. 3 – Group One wins by Voyage Bubble this season. A fourth this weekend would put Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's superstar firmly in the Hong Kong Horse of the Year conversation alongside Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior.
South China Morning Post
22-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Ricky Yiu adamant Voyage Bubble ‘can absolutely handle' trip test in Champions & Chater Cup
Voyage Bubble leaves his rivals in his wake in the Gold Cup. Photos: Kenneth Chan Ricky Yiu Poon-fai has unwavering faith in Voyage Bubble's ability to answer a significant distance query as the trainer's stable star bids for a historic win in Sunday's Group One Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) at Sha Tin. Striving to become just the second galloper to claim Hong Kong's Triple Crown, the four-time Group One winner will be tested beyond 2,000m for the first time in what shapes as mouth-watering clash with British raider Dubai Honour. However, Yiu believes a major change in Voyage Bubble this season will hold the six-year-old in good stead in the city's final Group One of the season. 'The closer to the race and the more I look at this horse, I think he can absolutely handle the trip,' Yiu said of Voyage Bubble, who comes off a close second to Red Lion in the Group One Champions Mile. 'Compared to last year or when he won the Derby over 2,000m, he's so relaxed now. Voyage Bubble tuned up for his @StanChart Champions & Chater Cup test with a barrier trial this morning as he aims to become Hong Kong's second #TripleCrown winner EVER! 🏆 📍 Sha Tin, 25 May | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 16, 2025 'We're only talking about 400m more in a small field with a jockey who knows him well. He's going really well. He'll be a really good chance.' Voyage Bubble will aim to cap a stellar campaign featuring elite-level victories in the Hong Kong Mile and the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Stewards' Cup (1,600m) and Gold Cup (2,000m). The Deep Field gelding's more relaxed nature was on display in the Gold Cup when he was shuffled back in the field before the turn and overcame traffic early in the straight to score an explosive triumph. 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. River Verdon is the only galloper to achieve Triple Crown glory, claiming all three legs in the 1993-94 season. Standing in Voyage Bubble's way is Dubai Honour, who boasts a proven record at the Champions & Chater Cup trip with Group One victories in France and Australia and a second to Giavellotto in December's Group One Hong Kong Vase. Jockey James McDonald and trainer Ricky Yiu (second from right) after Voyage Bubble's Gold Cup victory. Yiu has plenty of respect for the William Haggas-trained gelding, who comes off a sound second to star Australian mare Via Sistina in the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,000m) at Randwick. 'He's the main danger. He even did well when he was here last December. Hopefully we can beat him,' Yiu said. Yiu will also put his faith in superstar Kiwi jockey James McDonald, who has guided Voyage Bubble to half of his 10 career wins. The son of Deep Field has drawn barrier three in the field of 10, which looks to be bereft of speed after likely pace influences Sword Point and Noisy Boy were withdrawn before final declarations. 'I'll leave it to the jockey – he can read if they're going quick or going slow,' Yiu said. Voyage Bubble (centre) finishes a close second to Red Lion (inside) in the Champions Mile. Tom Marquand again rides Dubai Honour, who has drawn the inside gate. Craig Williams is the other visiting rider chasing Group One glory in the Champions & Chater Cup, with the star Australian continuing his association with Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero Cap Ferrat. The Snitzel gelding followed his Derby success with a solid fifth to Tastiera in last month's Group One QE II Cup (2,000m). He ran sixth in his only attempt at 2,400m in the Group One Australian Derby at Randwick pre-import. 'I think he can handle it,' trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai said. 'His last run was all right. From barrier eight, he had to be used up a little bit more to get a good position.' Lui's team engaged for Sunday's 11-race meeting also includes classy four-year-old Packing Hermod in the Class Two River Verdon Handicap (1,400m). 'He will run in this race and then the Group Three [Sha Tin Vase over 1,400m] next month. He's improved,' Lui said of his five-time winner.
South China Morning Post
12-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Champions & Chater Cup could attract biggest field in decades as local entries confirmed
Voyage Bubble wins the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Hong Kong Gold Cup, in February. Photo: Kenneth Chan Not since John Size's Super Kid beat home 12 rivals in 2004 have more than 10 gone to post for the final Group One of the Hong Kong season The Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) could attract its biggest field in over 20 years after the Jockey Club confirmed the local entries for the final Group One of the Hong Kong season. Not since John Size's Super Kid beat home 12 rivals in 2004 have more than 10 gone to post for the Champions & Chater Cup, something that might change come May 25. With officials confident British star Dubai Honour will board a flight to Hong Kong later this week and Voyage Bubble headlining 11 local entries, a dozen gallopers could line up in the HK$13 million contest. While Dubai Honour, who was runner-up in December's Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) and will be having his fourth start in Hong Kong, and Triple Crown aspirant Voyage Bubble are the stars of the show, there was a good spread among Monday afternoon's entries. Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m) winner Bundle Award and four of the five horses he beat home in the traditional lead-up race – Noisy Boy, Winning Dragon, Five G Patch and La City Blanche – have been nominated, with Bundle Award and Noisy Boy among a quartet of four-year-olds in the mix. BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) winner Cap Ferrat has been entered after running a game fifth behind Japan's Tastiera in the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) last month, and Classic Cup hero Rubylot joins him after finishing sixth in the same Champions Day feature. Ensued, the first local galloper home in the QE II Cup, will try and hand Size another win in the race, while Moments In Time also heads towards the Champions & Chater Cup after a solid showing behind Tastiera. Rounding out the local entries is Sword Point, who could be seen on a racetrack for the first time since running a long last in the Group Two Godolphin Mile when resenting the kickback on the Meydan dirt. Group One winners eye Group Threes While the Champions & Chater Cup is the final Group One of the Hong Kong season, that doesn't mean there won't be Group One winners strutting their stuff post the May 25 feature. A string a John Size's best gallopers were kept ticking over with trials at Sha Tin on Monday morning with a view to the Group Three contests at the end of the month. The past two winners of the Group One Champions Mile, Beauty Eternal and Red Lion, are expected to head to the Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) on May 31 after following Packing Hermod across the line in a 1,200m dirt trial. Helios Express also finished just off the winner in his six-furlong hit-out and he will be looking to make hay while Ka Ying Rising is away in the Group Three Sha Tin Vase (1,200m) on that May 31 card. 🌏 racing's highest earner Romantic Warrior on track at Sha Tin this morning. @mcacajamez @WorldPool Quarantine is now complete and he's returned home to Danny Shum's stable. 👏 — Declan Schuster 蘇時達 (@SchusterDeclan) May 12, 2025 After securing a remarkable HK$16.4 million in prize money purely through placing behind Ka Ying Rising in all seven of his runs this season, Helios Express is on track to chase his first victory since March last year. With Ka Ying Rising having a well-earned rest ahead of his trip to Australia for October's The Everest (1,200m), connections will be hopeful the 117-rated Helios Express has enough in the tank to secure a much-deserved success late in the season. Size's gallopers weren't the only big names to grace Sha Tin yesterday morning, with the biggest gun of all, Romantic Warrior, having his first poke around his home track since clearing quarantine following his lengthy stint in the Middle East.
South China Morning Post
29-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
No Rebel's Romance but Stellenbosch among overseas Champions & Chater Cup entries
Voyage Bubble remains on track for the race but could face a stern challenge from the foreign contingent Rebel's Romance will not defend his Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) crown but three overseas runners could provide a difficult challenge for the locals. Godolphin's star globetrotter left Five G Patch and La City Blanche trailing when hosing up in the race 12 months ago but there could still be British interest in the race thanks to Dubai Honour. William Haggas' three-time Australian Group One winner was last seen in Hong Kong finishing second to Giavellotto in the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m), where he was ahead of another potential raider – Stellenbosch. Rebel's Romance is just too good! The boys in blue land the @StanChart Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin... 🏆 #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 26, 2024 That rival was the $3.2 favourite for the race and the Japanese filly will need to bounce back from a disappointing return in the Group One Osaka Hai (2,200m) at Hanshin. Should she return to the form of her win in the Group One Oka Sho (2,000m) or her second in the Group One Yushun Himba (2,400m), she would be very difficult to beat for trainer Sakae Kunieda. The fly in the ointment could be the Joseph O'Brien-trained Al Riffa, winner of the Group One Grosser Preis von Berlin (2,400m) and second to Epsom Derby winner City Of Troy in the Group One Eclipse Stakes (2,200m) at Sandown last year. He has done his fair share of travelling in his short career and is versatile to all surfaces, so would not mind if any rain came – as can be the case. Hong Kong's biggest hope is set to be Voyage Bubble, who is aiming to sweep the Hong Kong Triple Crown after wins in the Group One Stewards' Cup (1,600m) and the Hong Kong Gold Cup (2,000m) this season. He suffered a shock defeat in Sunday's Champions Mile at Sha Tin when unable to get past the gutsy Red Lion, who upstaged him at 89-1 odds for trainer John Size. The step up in distance raises question marks about Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's six-year-old, who is yet to go past the 2,000m distance in his career to date.
