Voyage Bubble Makes History in Hong Kong

Media Release - Sunday May 25

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.

The Classic Yearling Sale champion has been one of the most consistent top-level horses in Hong Kong for many seasons - from his past seven starts alone he has won five times and finished second at the other two, while he is now an 11-time winner from 26 starts, as well as 10 minor placings.

Voyage Bubble has won five G1 races - image HKJC

The Ricky Yiu-trained Voyage Bubble began his quest for Triple Crown Glory when winning the G1 Stewards' Cup over 1600m at Sha Tin in January.

Advertisement

He backed that up with victory in the second leg - the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000m in February - before stepping up to the 2400m journey for the first time in his career to score a spectacular win in tonight's third and final leg, the G1 Champions and Chater Cup.

“He’s just a brilliant racehorse who does everything you ask of him, he’s so willing,” an elated James McDonald said post-race.

“I feel very lucky to be riding him, he’s just such a star.

“He just switches off and allows himself to get the distance so well.

“I want to pay credit to the stable, they’ve done a remarkable job with this horse, great training effort – a mile to 2400m. They’re absolutely incredible.

“They’ve got a champion racehorse on their hands and he deserves all the accolades he gets.”

Voyage Bubble led home an Inglis graduate trifecta in tonight’s victory, with Rubylot and Cap Ferrat in the placings.He becomes the first in more than 30 years to win the Hong Kong Triple Crown, following the success of River Verdon in 1994.

“Since I won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, I started dreaming and now today the dream has come true. It’s really amazing.

“Dreams come true,” Ricky Yiu said after Voyage Bubble’s dominant performance.

“You seldom see a horse perform from a sprint, 1200m, up to the maximum distance of a Hong Kong 2400m so he’s really a genius.

“The whole team are thrilled.”

Voyage Bubble topped the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Now a winner of $HKD 97,472,475 ($AUD 19,231,046), Voyage Bubble is a $380,000 Classic Sale purchase for his trainer Ricky Yiu, from the draft of his breeder Torryburn Stud.

Voyage Bubble is one of 108 individual G1-winning graduates since 2018.

Advertisment

Race Result - The Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup Gr1 2400m

Sha Tin Track: Good Time: 2:26.67
1
Voyage Bubble
- 6g Deep Field (AUS) x Raheights (AUS) (Rahy (USA))
Tnr: P F Yiu Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
2
3.5
Rubylot
- 4g Rubick (AUS) x Emirates Comfort (IRE) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: D A Hayes Rdr: J Bowman 57
3
4
Cap Ferrat
- 4g Snitzel (AUS) x C'est Beau La Vie (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: Craig Williams 57
4
4.3
Dubai Honour
- 7g Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Mondelice (GB) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: W J Haggas Rdr: T Marquand 57
5
4.5
Bundle Award
- 4g Shamus Award (AUS) x Ecosse (AUS) (West Quest (CAN))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: A Atzeni 57
6
4.5
Ensued
- 5g Lemon Drop Kid (USA) x Alluvial Gold (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: Z Purton 57
7
5
Five G Patch
- 7g Camelot (GB) x Uliana (USA) (Darshaan (GB))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: B Avdulla 57
8
7.5
Winning Dragon
- 7g Ivan Denisovich (IRE) x Perdoname (CHI) (Stuka (USA))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: A Badel 57
9
13.5
La City Blanche
- 6g Cityscape (GB) x Etoile Blanc (BRZ) (Nedawi (GB))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: M Chadwick 57
10
21.8
Moments In Time
- 5g Lookin At Lucky (USA) x Magia Para Todos (CHI) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: C S Shum Rdr: H Bentley 57
More Reading...
The Power of Zoustar
The leading sire of winners in the world in 2025, reigning champion sire Zoustar makes his presence felt in many ways and we saw that over the weekend with a pair of stakes-winners in the Northern Hemisphere and here in Australia he got his first G1 winner as a broodmare sire.
Inglis Classic Sale-Topper Wins HK International Mile
Hong Kong champion Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) added another elite chapter to his extraordinary season on Sunday, producing a courageous performance to claim a second consecutive G1 Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin, further cementing his status as one of the great racehorses of the modern era.
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.
Plain Bay Fellow Gets Another Group One in HK
Torryburn Stud’s ‘plain bay fellow’, and now established super star, Voyage Bubble added another jewel to his crown at Sha Tin on Sunday winning the Group I The Steward’s Cup.
First Japanese Stakes Winner for Benbatl
Woodside Park Stud in Victoria were thinking outside the square when they decided to stand globetrotting Group I winning Dubawi stallion Benbatl (GB), who shuttles from Japan and he posted his first stakes-winner over the weekend in Japan.
Ka Ying Rising Scores a Record Breaking G1 Win!
It’s always special when Kiwi bred sprinter Ka Ying Rising steps out at Sha Tin, but on Sunday it was even more so with the world’s fastest horse breaking the track record for 1400m as he powered to a record 18th consecutive win in the Group I Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.
Cheers From Torryburn As Voyage Bubble Takes Hong Kong Triple Crown
While it may have been 31 years since the last Hong Kong Triple Crown winner River Verdon swept to victory, the Torryburn Stud-bred Voyage Bubble created his own slice of history, taking out the third and final leg, the Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) for his own clean sweep.
Alabama Lass Can Bounce Back
Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso have been scratching their heads with their Group One-performed mare Alabama Lass over the last few months, but they received a confidence boost following her win in a Group and Listed 1100m trial at Taupo on Sunday.
Rebel Dane Filly Leads Widden Sires Trifecta in Listed Cinderella
Rebel Dane shot to fame after siring Golden Slipper winning Champion 2YO Fireburn, but as so often happens when an unheralded stallion makes an early splash it can take a while for that initial result to transform into more ongoing success.
That's Gold Delivers Milestone for Kiwi Trainer Chris Wood
Ellerslie’s Saturday meeting proved to be a momentous occasion for Chris Wood, with That’s Gold’s dominant win in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) bringing up his 500th training victory in New Zealand.