The 2013 Juddmonte International Stakes and Queen Anne Stakes winner Declaration Of War (USA) has covered plenty of ground in his short stud career to date, which began at Coolmore Stud in Ireland in 2014, then moved to Ashford Stud in America and in 2019 the Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan in addition to two seasons in Australia.
The son of War Front has quietly been compiling a solid record headed by the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Olmedo and a pair of Listed stakes-winner in New Zealand, Vow And Declare and Weaponry, and in Australia the promising Declarationofheart who was runner-up in the Group II Alister Clark Stakes.
But it is doubtful that any of those have created as much excitement as the Ricky Yiu-trained Voyage Warrior who kept his record at a perfect two for two at Sha Tin on Monday when he zoomed over the 1000 metres in 54.89, just 0.19 outside Scared Kingdom's course record, which encouraged Yiu to favourably compare the son of Declaration Of War (USA) with his former champion sprinter. (image HKJC)
"Wow, that was my first reaction," Yiu told the HKJC.
"The first thing I asked the jockey (Karis Teetan) when he came back was 'did you actually hit him' and he said, no.
"It is very exciting and I'm going to say this now, this is the one that might have a bit of a comparison with Sacred Kingdom. Not after he won first time out, it was too early to tell then but maybe now I can say it.
"No matter
how good they are, I don't just want another Amber Sky who was limited to the
1000 (metres).
"To be an international Group 1 horse, you need to compete at 1200 (metres). I think he'll cope. During the race he's so relaxed, he didn't go nuts or do anything wrong out there today. He is still learning, this is just the second time he's run and it's all natural ability. He doesn't really know what's going on yet. He's got a good turn of foot, it's really something."
Purchased by The Robert Dawe Agency for $55,000 from the Henley Park draft at the 2017 NZB Select Yearling Sale, Voyage Warrior (pictured as a yearling) was on-sold at the NZB Ready To Run Sale of 2YOs where he was purchased by Yiu for $280,000.
A half-brother to Listed stakes-winner Speech Craft (Oratorio), Voyage Warrior is one of four winners from as many to race out of the Stravinsky (USA) mate Chaleur who hails from the family of 4-time Group 1 winner Wall Street (Montjeu) and the Group 1 VRC Emirates Stakes winner Bezeal Bay (Zabeel).
Chaleur died in March 2017. Her final foal is a 2yo Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) filly named Shawan.
