Zac Purton believes Voyage Bubble will need to reproduce one of the finest performances of his career if he is to successfully defend his crown in Sunday’s G1 Stewards’ Cup, with the reigning champion set to face the formidable Romantic Warrior at Sha Tin.
The seven-year-old’s gritty success in December’s G1 Hong Kong Mile remains fresh in the memory, and Purton is under no illusion that a similar level of resolve will be required in the G1 Stewards’ Cup, Hong Kong’s opening leg of the prestigious Triple Crown series.
Voyage Bubble was made to fight every stride in the Mile when challenged late by Japan’s Soul Rush, briefly appearing beaten before finding a telling surge inside the final furlong. It was a performance built on courage and class, qualities that will again be tested to the limit against one of the modern greats of the turf.
“I think everyone thought he was beaten at the 100 metres,” Purton recalled. “Soul Rush had a tough run, worked hard, and peaked late. Our horse found something extra when it mattered and finished it off strongly. It was a good win.”
G1 Stewards’ Cup sets tone for Triple Crown campaign
Sunday’s HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup, run over 1600 metres, opens the Triple Crown series, which continues with the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) on 1 March and the G1 Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) in May.
Voyage Bubble etched his name into history last season when he became just the second horse after River Verdon to complete the Triple Crown, a feat that elevated him into elite company. A repeat success this term would be even more remarkable, particularly with Romantic Warrior remaining on the domestic trail.
The clash has all the makings of a defining chapter in the Hong Kong season. Romantic Warrior, trained by Danny Shum, arrives as the highest-earning racehorse in history, with more than HK$240 million amassed and 11 Group 1 victories secured across five campaigns. He has not been beaten in a Group 1 at Sha Tin since narrowly conceding the Champions & Chater Cup in 2023.
While Voyage Bubble’s reputation as a specialist at a mile is well established, Purton is wary of reading too much into Romantic Warrior’s relative absence at the distance.
“Generally, I would agree that the mile is our horse’s strength,” he said. “But Romantic Warrior has so much natural speed he can put himself anywhere. Even if he turned up in a sprint, he’d be competitive. He’s an amazing horse and clearly a better horse than us. We need to find a way to beat him.”
James McDonald, who reunites with Romantic Warrior for the 17th time, is relishing the challenge but is fully aware of the depth of opposition awaiting on Sunday.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” McDonald said. “It’s a strong race with Galaxy Patch, My Wish and Red Lion all bringing serious form. It won’t be easy, but there’s no better partner to go into battle with than Romantic Warrior.”
Suggestions that the return to a mile could blunt Romantic Warrior’s edge were quickly dismissed by the rider.
“He’s got pace to burn,” McDonald added. “Distance, surface, conditions — it doesn’t matter. He’s a champion, and he always shows up.”
The 11-race Sha Tin programme on Sunday, 25 January, gets underway at 12.30pm with the Class 4 Peniaphobia Handicap over 1000 metres.
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