Inglis Classic Sale-Topper wins G1 HK International Mile

Media Release - Monday December 9

Inglis Classic graduate Voyage Bubble has delivered a scintillating performance to claim the G1 Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin, cementing his status as the ‘King of the Mile’ in Hong Kong.

Second in last year’s contest, the big-striding son of Deep Field raced on speed in the 1600m event at Sha Tin, before pulling away for his eighth career win and his second at G1 level.

Torryburn Stud bred and sold Voyage Bubble wins the HK Mile - image Grant Courtney

The victory takes his earnings to HK$70.5m (AUD$14.2m), with other career highlights including wins in the Hong Kong Derby and Hong Kong Classic Mile last year, as well as his breakthrough G1 win in the Stewards’ Cup in January.

It’s also the 6YO gelding’s fifth win at 1600m, a distance he has also placed at another four times.

Voyage Bubble was the Classic Sale-topper in 2020 when offered by Brett Cornish’s Torryburn Stud and bought by trainer Ricky Yiu for $380,000.

Voyage Bubble topped the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

“He’s always been an extremely tough animal, right from the moment he was born and when we prepped him for the Classic Yearling Sale,” Brett Cornish said.

“He just has that X-factor, he’s so tough with a big heart.

“Ricky (Yiu) has done a remarkable job with this horse, it was great to see him bounce back after those trips to Dubai and Japan where the stable don’t think the anti-clockwise tracks suited him,” Brett Cornish said.

“It was also great to see James McDonald reunited with him, James loves Voyage Bubble and Voyage Bubble loves James.”

“He’s a great horse in his own right,” jockey James McDonald said post race.

“He just gives his all, very big heart, he’s very uncomplicated and puts himself in the race, it’s great for Hong Kong… credit to Ricky Yiu and his team they’ve prepped him up beautifully,” McDonald said.

Voyage Bubble’s dam Raheights (Rahy) recently produced her final foal at age 22 – a filly by Home Affairs – after spending four years in retirement as a nanny to Torryburn Stud weanlings.

Advertisement

“The mare is incredible,” Brett Cornish said.

“We were actually inspecting weanlings last year with Inglis’ Chris Russell, and Raheights zoomed down the paddock with the weanlings and almost bowled us over and she just looked incredibly healthy.

“When all the vet checks came back with big ticks we decided to have another go, she was covered by Home Affairs, a stallion Torryburn bred and sold at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale so it’s gone full circle.

“The filly is absolutely gorgeous, she just runs and runs around the paddock and Raheights looks half her age, she will enjoy a second retirement.”

Torryburn Stud will offer 11 yearlings at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.

Voyage Bubble is one of 102 individual G1-winning Inglis graduates since 2018 and his G1 Hong Kong International Mile win crowns a stellar year for Inglis in Hong Kong.

He is one of four Inglis graduates to win at the highest level in Hong Kong this year, joining Beauty Eternal, Victor The Winner and Invincible Sage.

Just for good measure, tonight’s G1 Hong Kong International Sprint runner-up, Helios Express, another Inglis graduate, won both the Hong Kong Classic Mile and the Hong Kong Classic Cup earlier in the year.

Voyage Bubble was one of six Inglis graduates to win on Hong Kong’s biggest day, alongside Happy Park (Duporth), Divano (Brave Smash), Californiatotality (Zoustar), Markwin (I Am Invincible) and Packing Hermod (Rubick).

Advertisment
More Reading...
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Inglis Ready2Race Sale Now Online
The strongest collection of sire power ever assembled for an Australian 2YO Sale will be offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
Voyage Bubble Makes History in Hong Kong
Hong Kong superstar Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) tonight became just the second horse in history to win the Hong Kong Triple Crown when scoring a stunning victory in the G1 Champions and Chater Cup at Sha Tin.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Idyllic Prince Stakes - Phanta Leads a Sweet Trifecta for Gingerbread Man
Yarradale Stud's senior stallion Gingerbread Man achieved a rare career high for any sire when the son of Shamardal provided the trifecta in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes over 1300m at Belmont Park.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Stakes Success For Cafe Millenium
While having just turned 5, former Sydneysider Cafe Millenium (Not A Single Doubt), who now calls Lindsay Park home, broke through for his first black type victory on Saturday, winning the Listed SAJC Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville in impressive fashion.
A Torryburn Gasp Before their Plain Bay Fellow Wins G1 No 4
The Torryburn stud team, watching as they always do when their ‘plain bay fellow’ races, would have had a gasp or two mid race but it ended up as easy as it comes with Voyage Bubble making it three Group I wins from his last three starts in the Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.
Narrow Miss for Hellbent Gelding in G2 Foxbridge
Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.