VOYAGE BUBBLE STEPS OUT OF GOLDEN SIXTY'S SHADOW WITH A STRONG WIN IN THE HONG KONG MILE

By Darren Winningham | Sunday, December 8, 2024

Voyage Bubble finally stepped out from the shadows of Golden Sixty when he claimed the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (Group 1) – HK$36 million – his second career Group 1 victory.

The Ricky Yiu trained gelding previously contested this race in 2023 and ran a gallant second to the local Hong Kong champion Golden Sixty. He had also previously contested the FWD Champions Mile in April 2023 and was again beaten by Golden Sixty.

In January 2024 he posted his first Group 1 victory when he won the Stewards Cup.

Since then, he has raced in Dubai and Japan without much luck. Back on his home turf and coming off a Group 2 win over the mile at his last start he seems to have grown with confidence. This was confirmed with what could be called a dominant win in the feature mile event on LONGINES HKIR day.

Ridden by James McDonald, he raced handily throughout the roughly run race. As they entered the straight McDonald shook up the gelding and he responded putting an immediate space on the opposition. It was all over in the twinkling of an eye.

“He is a great horse in his own right. He felt excellent going to the gates today – he was really on the job. Credit to Ricky and his team – they’ve prepped him up beautifully,” McDonald said. “He just gives his all. He has a very big heart and he’s very uncomplicated.”

Ricky Yiu praised the advanced resources that are available to Hong Kong trainers at Conghua telling the press, “Mentally he is a lot more mature. He’s very smart and he’s developed – he’s got taller and a little bit bigger. He has enjoyed Conghua very much.”

“Out of all of jockeys who have won on him James knows him the best and the draw (five) helped him. The way the race was run suited him. We have wonderful team, and we work together very nicely,” Yiu said.

The second Group 1 win takes Voyage Bubble’s record to eight wins, nine placings from 20 starts with prize money of $HK70,592,475.

The Australian and Queensland runner Antino had no luck in the running being knocked down as he entered the straight.

This was the first leg of a Group 1 double for jockey James McDonald. In the next race on the program the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (Group 1) he rode Romantic Warrior to victory to post a historic two Group 1 triumphs on LONGINES HKIR day.

McDonald now joins an esteem group of jockeys who have achieved this in their careers – Zac Purton (2016 & 2018), Ryan Moore (2015 & 2020), Joao Moreira (2014 & 2019), Douglas Whyte (2013), Felix Coetzee (2003) and Olivier Peslier (1999).

The LONGINES World’s Best Jockey now heads back to Australia with three LONGINES watches after his victories in Hong Kong – hopefully he will not get charged for excess baggage.

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