News

Voyage Bubble wins G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup

23rd Feb 2025

Voyage Bubble has claimed his fourth G1 and his fourth win in succession with a dominant performance in tonight’s G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin.

Despite being shuffled back to second last before the home turn, the hulking son of Deep Field found clear running with 300m to go and surged clear under the urgings of James McDonald to win by an emphatic three and 3/4 lengths.

The Inglis Classic sale-topper in 2020, when purchased by trainer Ricky Yiu from Torryburn Stud for $380,000, has won 10 times from 24 starts and more than HK$85 million in prizemoney.

Tonight’s victory follows wins in the G1 Hong Kong Mile and G1 Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup, the first leg of the Triple Crown Series.

“It wasn’t smooth sailing but he’s a great racehorse,” jockey James McDonald said post race.

“I’m lucky to have him as a partner because he got me out of a sticky situation, [it was] very muddling… the pace wasn’t strong, I was shuffled back… we might have found a new way to ride him as well.

“He’s no one-trick pony, he’s got so many strings to his bow,” McDonald said.

Voyage Bubble is poised to add a HK$10 million bonus to his prizemoney earnings, should he win the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Hong Kong Champions and Chater Cup (2400m) on May 25.

He would be only the second horse to achieve the feat, following River Verdon in 1993/94.

“That’s another pain barrier he’s got to go through (2400m) but he’s a great racehorse and we’ve seen it with a great racehorse last night (Romantic Warrior in the Saudi Cup), how good these Hong Kong horses are,” McDonald said.

“They’re as tough as they come and they fly the flag anywhere, 2400m is definitely going to be a new challenge for him but he’s up to it, he’s got the right team behind him.”

Voyage Bubble’s next start will likely be in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 2000m on Champions Day, April 27.

He is one of 103 individual G1-winning Inglis graduates since 2018.

The 2025 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale is the next chance for buyers to buy a future G1 winner, with recent Hong Kong graduates including Victor The Winner, Invincible Sage, Senor Toba, Mugen, Full Of Beauty, Champion’s Way and Handsome Bo Bo.

Inspections begin this Tuesday, February 25 ahead of the sale March 2-4 at Oaklands in Melbourne.

To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.