Voyage Bubble overcame a challenging run to move one step closer to Triple Crown glory with an emphatic victory in Sunday’s Group One Citi Gold Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin.
Despite appearing to stumble when being shuffled back through the field in a slowly run race, Ricky Yiu Poon-fai’s stable star once again proved his class to notch a fourth Group One success under James McDonald.
Sent off the $1.35 favourite, Voyage Bubble worked into the clear at the 300m and put away his rivals quickly to win by three and three-quarter lengths.
“It wasn’t smooth sailing but he’s a great racehorse,” said McDonald.
CLASS PREVAILS! 🙌
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025
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
“I’m lucky to have him as a partner because he got me out of a sticky situation. It was very muddling and he overcame many obstacles throughout that race to come away for a great victory.”
McDonald claimed Group One glory less than 15 hours after the heartbreak of his close defeat on Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior, who ran a close second to Forever Young in the US$20 million Saudi Cup (1,800m).
The Kiwi star flew out of Riyadh soon after the world’s richest race and arrived in Hong Kong only a few hours before riding Voyage Bubble.
Yiu was also relieved after son of Deep Field overcame a difficult run to bag his fourth elite-level success and third in a row.
Jockey James McDonald and trainer Ricky Yiu (second from right) after Voyage Bubble’s Gold Cup win.
“I suppose the tempo of the race was on the slow side. That’s why my horse kept getting shuffled back from third position to fourth, then back to third last and second last and around the middle bend, it caused him to stumble,” Yiu said.
“At that particular moment, it nearly broke my heart.
“Once he accelerated, he’s quite a big horse and he’s got a huge stride, so they could not match him.”
Voyage Bubble went one better than last year when he ran a brave second to Romantic Warrior, who was ridden to victory by McDonald, in the Gold Cup.
Voyage Bubble streaks clear in the Gold Cup.
The John Size-trained Ensued made late ground for second, a length and a quarter ahead of Chancheng Glory, who held on for third after setting a slow speed.
With the first two legs of the Triple Crown in the bag, Voyage Bubble will bid to become only the second galloper to claim the series when he tackles the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) in May. River Verdon was the first and only winner of the Triple Crown in the 1993-94 season.
“That’s another pain barrier he’s got to go through. He’s a great racehorse and we have seen it with the great horse last night how good these Hong Kong horses are – they’re as tough as they come – and they fly the flag anywhere,” McDonald said.
“The 2,400m is definitely going to be a new challenge for him but he’s up to it.”
Voyage Bubble’s connections celebrate.
Yiu is yet to decide on Voyage Bubble’s Champions Day target – the Group One Champions Mile or Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) on April 27 – before the final leg of the Triple Crown.
“I’m a bit optimistic to run him over 2,400m,” Yiu said of what will be Voyage Bubble’s first test at the trip.
“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. There’s a mile or 2,000m in between the 2,400m. It wouldn’t be much of a difference.
“I’m pretty optimistic – we’ll take the challenge.”
