Voyage Bubble Takes Second Leg Of Hong Kong Triple Crown Series

[Wandering Eyes]

The second winner on the Sha Tin card to have parlayed a win in the 2024 Longines Hong Kong International Races to Group 1 glory on Sunday, Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) secured the 2000-metre HK$13-million Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, although not without some trouble in running.

Reunited with James McDonald after he returned from taking second in the G1 Saudi Cup aboard Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) on Saturday, the 3-10 crowd's pick settled in midfield as Winning Dragon (Chi) (Ivan Denisovich {Ire}) established a pressured advantage. Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit) took over on the backstretch and commanded a narrow lead at halfway. Just prior to the 800-metre pole, Voyage Bubble clipped heels and was shuffled back to last, bar one. McDonald let the gelding find his rhythm once more and Voyage Bubble just needed room inside the final quarter mile. He bulled his way through a split in the lane and took over at the 150-metre mark, before kicking away to win by 3 3/4 lengths. Ensued (Lemon Drop Kid) caught Chancheng Glory for second, with the eventual third-place finisher 1 1/4 lengths back.

“It wasn't smooth sailing but he's a great racehorse. I'm lucky to have him as a partner because he got me out of a sticky situation,” said McDonald. “We might have found a new way of riding him as well. Who knows?”

Voyage Bubble has a chance of landing a HK$10-million bonus for winning all three legs of the Triple Crown Series. He only needs the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) on May 25 to become the second horse to do so after River Verdon (Ire) (Be My Native) in 1993/94.

Revelling in his first Group 1 success at 2000m, trainer Ricky Yiu said, “I'm a bit optimistic to run him over 2400m. Before James takes off tonight, we're going to have a little celebration party and I'm going to have a good chat with him to see where we go next.”

A winner of the G1 Stewards' Cup last January, the bay has experienced mixed fortunes since, but seemed to turn over a new leaf when back in the winner's circle in the G2 Jockey Club Mile six starts later in November. After taking the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile a month later, he added his second Stewards' Cup on Jan. 19.

Pedigree Notes

By some margin the most decorated runner for his sire, Voyage Bubble is one of 38 stakes winners, 23 group, for Deep Field. The Hong Kong star is also one of four top-level scorers, with Deep Field's others striking in South Africa (Al Muthana {Aus}), Australia (Portland Sky {Aus}), and Hong Kong (Sky Field {Aus}).

The Gold Cup winner is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Diddums (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), and the stakes-placed Brettan (Aus) (Commands {Aus}). His granddam, Laoub (Red Ransom), is a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year and champion grass mare Never Retreat (Smart Strike), who won five graded races, among them the GI First Lady Stakes.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
CITI HONG KONG GOLD CUP-G1, HK$13,000,000, Sha Tin, 2-23, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:00.59, gd.
1–VOYAGE BUBBLE (AUS), 126, g, 6, by Deep Field (Aus)
                1st Dam: Raheights (Aus), by Rahy
                2nd Dam: Laoub, by Red Ransom
                3rd Dam: Lisieux, by Steady Growth
(A$380,000 Ylg '20 INGFEB). O-Sunshine And Moonlight
Syndicate; B-Torryburn Stud (NSW); T-Ricky Yiu; J-James
McDonald; HK$7,280,000. Lifetime Record: 24-10-6-3,
HK$85,152,475. *1/2 to Diddums (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}),
GSW-Aus, $164,688. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ensued, 126, h, 5, Lemon Drop Kid–Alluvial Gold (Ire) by
Danehill Dancer (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. ($120,000 Ylg
'21 KEESEP; €260,000 2yo '22 ARQMAY). O-Ada Wong Yin
Man; B-T/C Stable, LLC (KY); T-John Size; J-Karis Teetan;
HK$2,730,000.
3–Chancheng Glory, 126, g, 5, Mor Spirit–Solid Scam, by
Consolidator. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. ($50,000 Wlg '20
KEENOV; $110,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $220,000 RNA 2yo '22
OBSMAR). O-Chancheng Racing Syndicate; B-H. Allen
Poindexter; T-K Lui; J-Hugh Bowman; HK$1,495,000.
Margins: 3/4, SHD, SHD. Odds: 0.30, 14.00, 15.00.
Also Ran: Winning Dragon (Chi), Happy Together (Ire), La City Blanche (Arg), Straight Arron (Aus), Galaxy Patch (Aus), Five G Patch (Ire), Sword Point (Aus).
Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.

 

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

The post Voyage Bubble Takes Second Leg Of Hong Kong Triple Crown Series appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article