Ricky YiuHong Kong Jockey Club
By Declan SchusterVersatility and consistency have been two hallmarks of Voyage Bubble rsquo;s career and the Ricky Yiu trainee is chasing a seventh career win in Sunday’s (17 November) HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin.
One of four entered for Yiu across this weekend’s trio of Group 2s, Voyage Bubble boasts wins at Sha Tin over distances ranging from 1200m up to the 2000m of the 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby. The six-year-old has 15 top-three finishes from 20 appearances.
James McDonald rides Voyage Bubble this weekend — the last jockey to win aboard the Deep Field gelding in January’s HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m), which came before the galloper embarked on a pair of overseas campaigns to Dubai and Japan, where he was twice unplaced.
Voyage Bubble finished fifth in 1m 12.44s over Conghua’s 1200m turf course in a barrier trial last Tuesday (5 November). He has been at the facility following his second to Galaxy Patch in October’s HK$5.35 million G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m).
“All my horses love being at Conghua. I went up to Conghua to see his trial and he did really well. He’s full of beans — I asked the rider just to give him a nice and easy trial because the main thing is to keep him happy and make sure he enjoys himself,” Yiu said.
Yiu is targeting the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) after the galloper’s gallant runner-up effort behind Golden Sixty in the 2023 renewal at odds of 30/1.
“Same path — the plan is the Jockey Club Mile and the Hong Kong Mile,” Yiu said.
A recent acquisition to Yiu’s stable, Straight Arron bolsters the trainer’s hand in the BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile as he hopes to upstage likely favourite Galaxy Patch on Sunday. The Fastnet Rock gelding is a Group 2 winner in Hong Kong over 2000m. He finished a closing fourth in his first run for Yiu in the Sha Tin Trophy.
“He’s surprising. He’s in really good form and his preparation has been magnificent,” Yiu said.
The 115-rater was pushed out to finish midfield in a recent barrier trial at Sha Tin under Brenton Avdulla, who retains the ride on Sunday. Beauty Eternal Beauty Joy Happy Together Red Lion Taj Dragon and Chancheng Glory are also entered to run.
Yiu has Nimble Nimbus and Awesome Fluke entered for the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) on Sunday against the might of Hong Kong’s current champion — the eight-time Group 1-winning Romantic Warrior.
Nimble Nimbus posted a career-best win last season in the HK$4.2 million G3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) before finishing third behind Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble (second) in February’s HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m).
Nimble Nimbus was fifth first-up in the HK$4.2 million G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) behind Ensued this month.
“He ran a good race recently, finishing well. I think this race will bring him on and hopefully he’ll do well. He’s a horse who can always give you a bit of a surprise,” Yiu said.
Awesome Fluke has finished third twice this term. The five-year-old has raced 13 times in Hong Kong for two wins — each over the BOCHK Jockey Club Cup trip. Awesome Fluke was previously known as Awesome John when he raced in Australia, winning three times, including the 2023 G2 W.A.T.C Derby (2400m).
Yiu has also entered Mega Bonus, Victory Sky, Gracious Express, Natural Storm, Newborn Miracle, Little Squid, Dragon Air Force and Chill Kaka for Sunday’s (17 November) fixture, which also features the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m).
