Latest news with #RickyYiu
South China Morning Post
16 hours 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.
South China Morning Post
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Sunlight Power ready to parlay ‘storming run' into maiden Group success
Sunlight Power (left) runs third in last month's Group One Champions Mile. Photo: Kenneth Chan He's coming off the best run of his career but Ricky Yiu Poon-fai remains confident Sunlight Power has even more to give in Saturday's Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) at Sha Tin. A half-length third behind Red Lion in last month's Group One Champions Mile, with superstar Voyage Bubble splitting the pair, Sunlight Power looks as well placed as anything in this Saturday's mile feature. There is obviously no Voyage Bubble to contend with this weekend after he put a full stop on his season with an emphatic victory in the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) last Sunday, while the return to handicap conditions suits Sunlight Power down to the ground. He gets 11lbs from Red Lion compared to their Champions Mile meeting at level weights, while he is also better placed against the four other local gallopers he beat home in the Champions Mile and will meet again on Saturday – Happy Together, Beauty Joy, Chancheng Glory and Beauty Eternal. RED LION ROARS! 🦁 It's an 89/1 shocker in the FWD Champions Mile at Sha Tin for @HugeBowman and John Size as Red Lion lands his first Group 1 over Voyage Bubble... #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025 'That was a storming run,' Yiu said of Sunlight Power's third in his first Group One appearance. 'It was very encouraging last start to finish third in a Group One. He's only lightly raced so of course he should still be improving. He's not old but he's getting more experienced these days.' Five-year-old Sunlight Power has been up to Conghua since the Champions Mile, with his stay including a solid trial fourth behind Mugen over 1,200m on turf. 'This horse has done well, he loves Conghua very much and he's had a good break in between runs. This Group Three looks ideal for him,' said Yiu of Sunlight Power, who has won six of his 24 starts. 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. Class act! Sunlight Power wears down Voyage Samurai in the Kowloon Tong Club Trophy as @HugeBowman makes it a hat-trick at Sha Tin... 🔥#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 15, 2025 Divano, Encountered, Johannes Brahms, Ka Ying Generation and Pray For Mir round out Sunlight Power's opponents in a contest in which he will carry 124lbs. While it was Christophe Soumillon doing the steering in the Champions Mile and Jerry Chau Chun-lok was aboard for the Group Two lead-up race in late March, it is Harry Bentley who will reunite with Sunlight Power this weekend. Bentley will look to improve his record of two wins and two seconds from five starts aboard Sunlight Power, with the British jockey tasked with negotiating barrier seven in the 11-horse field. Beauty Joy and Beauty Eternal are chasing their second successes in the Lion Rock Trophy, while Lucky Sweynesse is looking to back up his 2023 triumph in the afternoon's other feature, the Group Three Sha Tin Vase (1,200m). Winning machine! Lucky Sweynesse equals Beauty Generation's record eight wins in a single season, taking the G3 Sha Tin Vase with ease... @zpurton the man in the saddle for both! 👑 #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 4, 2023 Sixth in the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) in his first run back from a lengthy injury-induced absence, Lucky Sweynesse must lump top weight of 135lbs and will be ridden by Derek Leung Ka-chun for the first time. 'Slowly, he has been getting better and better. He's not young any more. After one year off, he's had one run and after that run he's shown improvement,' said Leung, who replaces James McDonald in the saddle. 'When I galloped him, he's very smart – he knows what to do. After the winning post, he just switched off by himself. He's very consistent.'
South China Morning Post
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Derek Leung snares treble as Hugh Bowman and Ellis Wong also star at Happy Valley
It was trebles and doubles galore at the city circuit on Wednesday night Derek Leung Ka-chun was in the winners again at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, with his first treble since November headlined by Gracious Express' last-gasp win in the Class Three Seine Handicap (1,200m). The 36-year-old had been winless for 27 rides prior to Voyage Boss' debut win at Sha Tin on Sunday and he did not have to wait long to continue that winning feeling. Settled in midfield, Gracious Express' backers would have been forgiven for throwing away their betting slips turning into the home straight, with Leung all action and going nowhere fast. Once switched into the clear in the straight, however, Leung managed to galvanise his mount and the pair motored home to overhaul Chateauneuf in the final 50m. Derek Leung rides a treble! 🔥 Churchill gelding Gracious Express steamrolls rivals to win the finale at Happy Valley for Ricky Yiu... #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 28, 2025 'It's great to get a treble, everything went smoothly tonight,' said Leung. Prestige Good's easy win in the Class Four Sauternes's Cup (1,650m) was another highlight on a brilliant night for Leung. Drawn well in barrier three, Prestige Good was bounced out into the lead by Leung and the pair never looked likely to relinquish it. Turning into the home straight, they spurted away and won by a very comfortable two and a quarter lengths, much to the delight of Leung. Prestige Good bursts clear to land the Sauternes Cup at Happy Valley as Derek Leung posts a double! 🏆#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 28, 2025 'Prestige Good is a nice horse with a nice action – he's also a big thinker so we gave him a good warm up behind the gates to make sure he jumped nice and to wake him up,' said Leung. 'Today, he showed his ability.' Winning trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai, fresh off Voyage Bubble's Triple Crown success at Sha Tin on Sunday, was also full of praise for Prestige Good, who was winning for the first time at the seventh attempt. 'He's kept improving, especially the past couple of runs. He's showing his real ability,' said Yiu. 'I would think with a light weight in Class Three he might still be able to do it, especially towards the end of the season.' Great horse! 🙌 Evergreen 9YO Wood On Fire collects an eighth win at Happy Valley in his 84th start in Hong Kong under Derek Leung for Michael Chang... #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 28, 2025 Leung's first winner on the card came aboard Wood On Fire in the first section of the Class Five Dordogne Handicap (1,200m), with the pair fighting on gamely from the front to deny $3 favourite So Awesome by a neck. Elsewhere, Ellis Wong Chi-wang also enjoyed another Happy Valley double that was kicked off by Bits Superstar's gritty win in the first section of the Class Four Ciron Handicap (1,200m). Breaking from barrier 11, Wong managed to get across and sit on the shoulder of the leader O'Liner before taking over as the field turned into the straight. There was a wall of challengers behind, but Bits Superstar held firm and denied them by a short head. Bits Superstar is tough in the finish! Three wins in May for our apprentice @elliswong05 as Pierre Ng's charge gets off the mark... 💪#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 28, 2025 And there was further joy for the young rider when Sky Vino saluted in the second section of the Class Four Garonne Handicap (1,650m). Sat midfield for much of the journey, Wong swung his mount into the middle of the track off the turn and the writing was soon on the wall, with the Vino Rosso galloper soon clear when asked to extend. Hugh Bowman was another rider to hit a double when Jumbo Legend thundered home to win the Class Three Rhine Handicap (1,650m). Jumbo Legend loops the field! Caspar Fownes' galloper launches from the clouds for a sixth Happy Valley win to cap a @HugeBowman double... ✌️#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 28, 2025 The last horse to turn in, victory looked unlikely for the Hinchinbrook galloper until the final 150m, where he charged into overdrive down the middle of the track and overhauled a wall of horses to win going away. It was the second leg of the Bowman double, with Young Arrow also leaving it late to win the proceeding second section of the Ciron Handicap. Settled three wide for much of the back straight, Bowman swept up off the turn and Young Arrow battled on bravely to get the better of a protracted duel with My Day My Way in the final strides.
South China Morning Post
25-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
‘Genius' Voyage Bubble bags Triple Crown with remarkable Champions & Chater Cup success
Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's dreams came true at Sha Tin on Sunday as Voyage Bubble snared the Group One Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) and became just the second winner of Hong Kong's illustrious Triple Crown. It was a sparkling performance from the now five-time top-level scorer, who always travelled ominously well in midfield under James McDonald. The race began in earnest when Zac Purton made a back-straight move on Ensued, which saw him range up alongside Dubai Honour and long-time leader Moments In Time and force the pace forward. Off the turn, it was Dubai Honour and Ensued who went on, but the eye was always drawn to Voyage Bubble, who surged to the front doing cartwheels at the 300m pole and drew off to win by as far as he pleased ahead of Rubylot, who charged into second late on. 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 Trainer Yiu was on cloud nine after his superstar became only the second winner of the Triple Crown, with Voyage Bubble bagging the HK$10 million bonus 31 years after River Verdon's historic first. 'Dreams came true – since I won the first two legs of the Triple Crown I started dreaming. Now today, dreams have come true. It's amazing,' said Yiu about a horse who has long been close to his heart. 'I was so worried that I couldn't buy him. I didn't have enough money to buy him and couldn't afford him. I rang up Hong Kong to get a better budget as I didn't want to lose him – it was love at first sight. 'The closer I looked at the race today, the closer I thought he would have a winning chance – he's done so well and his preparation was so good. 'I didn't want to tie [James McDonald] up with any riding instructions – he could just press the button and go.' The memories of Voyage Bubble's $1.6 defeat in the Group One Champions Mile (1,600m) are long in the wing mirrors, with the extra distance looking crucial to him now. For Yiu, his future looks to be beyond the mile, which could see him clash with Romantic Warrior in a mouth-watering rematch. 'He's pure athletic, if you look at him you can tell he's a high-class racehorse,' said Yiu. 'He's performed from a sprint to the maximum distance in Hong Kong – he's a genius. 'When we first ran him over 1,200m and 1,400m it was like a game for him. This is a real task. The 2,000m or even more seems to be an easier task for him. He won by a big margin over those trips – with a mile it's slightly competitive for him.' It was not just Yiu who was left in dreamland, with jockey McDonald also feeling spellbound by his superstar partner. 'I'm so lucky to be riding him and he's just a brilliant racehorse. He just does everything you ask of him and he's so willing. He was on song today and I just felt very lucky to be riding him. He's just such a star,' said McDonald. 'I couldn't have dreamed of it panning out as well as that – that's once in a blue moon. The stars aligned and with that sort of run, he was always going to be hard to beat. He was going to be hard to beat even without such a good run, but it all worked out. 'He just switches off and allows himself to get the distance so well and I just want to pay credit to the Yiu stable – they've done a remarkable job with this horse. 'It's a great training effort – a mile to 2,400m. They're absolutely incredible. They've got a champion racehorse on their hands and he deserves all the accolades he gets. It's awesome. I'm very proud of him.'
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.
