Voyage Bubble’s Stewards’ Cup return has the feel of a heavyweight rematch, the sort that pulls a crowd closer to the rail and sharpens the attention of everyone watching morning work. Trainer Ricky Yiu sounded quietly satisfied after his stable star stretched out at Sha Tin last week, the sort of gallop that reassures rather than excites. With Sunday’s Stewards’ Cup looming, the champion gelding appears exactly where his handler wants him.
Yiu watched closely as Voyage Bubble worked alongside a stablemate, the bay moving with the ease of a horse who has been here before. “He’s fit and he wasn’t blowing at all,” Yiu said afterwards. The feedback from his rider, he added, was equally encouraging. For a six-time Group 1 winner preparing to restart a demanding campaign, those small details matter.
Voyage Bubble etched his name into Hong Kong racing history last season when he became only the second horse to complete the Triple Crown, matching a feat first achieved more than three decades ago. That success was built on versatility and resilience, qualities that have defined his rise from sprinting beginnings to elite middle-distance performer. Sunday’s Stewards’ Cup over a mile marks the opening chapter of another attempt, and Yiu makes no secret of the challenge ahead.
“I would say the mile is his best distance,” the trainer explained, before acknowledging the presence of a familiar rival. Romantic Warrior has been the measuring stick of the division, and the pair’s clashes have become a defining narrative of the current era. “It’s a big challenge,” Yiu said, “but he’ll definitely run well.”
The Stewards’ Cup forms the first leg of the Triple Crown, to be followed by a 2000-metre contest in early March and a 2400-metre staying test in late May. The structure demands not only brilliance but durability, and Yiu intends to follow the same preparation that carried Voyage Bubble through last season unbeaten in the series. This time, however, there is no clear path.
Their most recent meeting came over 2000 metres in November, when Romantic Warrior proved too strong on the day. Earlier, Voyage Bubble had shown his own fighting qualities in a top-level mile victory in December, clawing back ground late to prevail in a finish that underlined his courage. “In the final 100 metres he fought back,” Yiu recalled. “He has a great heart.”
That heart, Yiu believes, is what allows Voyage Bubble to adapt so readily. From sharp early speed to the patience required over longer trips, the gelding has shown an uncommon ability to switch off and on at will. It is a trait that has served him well through the demands of a long season and will be tested again as the Stewards’ Cup brings together a deep and varied field.
Alongside Voyage Bubble and Romantic Warrior, entries include seasoned performers such as Beauty Joy, Galaxy Patch, Lucky Sweynesse, My Wish, Red Lion and Straight Arron. Yiu may also saddle Sunlight Power, adding further intrigue to a race that promises tactical nuance as well as raw ability.
Now 68, Yiu’s voice carries the calm of experience. With more than 1,000 winners to his name in Hong Kong, his career has been shaped by patience and an eye for nurturing talent, whether sprinters or stayers. Voyage Bubble stands among the finest he has trained, and Sunday’s Stewards’ Cup offers another chance to see that partnership tested at the highest level.
The Sha Tin programme also features a top-class sprint, where an unbeaten speedster bids to equal a long-standing local record, adding further depth to an afternoon that showcases the breadth of Hong Kong racing.
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