Champion jockey Zac Purton remains confident that Voyage Bubble can bounce back from a disappointing run as he prepares to face the formidable Romantic Warrior in the HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000 metres at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, 1 March.
Last month, Voyage Bubble finished a distant third behind Romantic Warrior in the G1 Stewards’ Cup over 1600 metres, relinquishing the Triple Crown he had captured so dominantly last season. Purton, however, believes the run should be viewed in context. The Australian rider explained that a troubled start left Voyage Bubble off balance and struggling to find his rhythm, preventing him from performing at his best. “I think we can forget the last run,” Purton said. “He slipped coming out of the gates, lost his balance and confidence, and never felt comfortable throughout the race. It upset him a little, and he wasn’t performing at his best.”
Since that setback, Voyage Bubble has shown encouraging signs in training. Purton noted that the colt has been moving well in recent trials and is fully capable of handling the 2000-metre distance. He added that with a small field and a tactical race expected, barrier positions could prove decisive, but he remains hopeful of mounting a strong challenge against Romantic Warrior.
Romantic Warrior, the globetrotting six-year-old trained by Danny Shum, enters the Gold Cup as the clear benchmark. Undefeated on home turf for more than two years, he boasts a remarkable record of 12 wins and a single second from 13 starts over 2000 metres at Sha Tin. His consistent performances make him a formidable opponent.
Voyage Bubble’s trainer, Ricky Yiu, expressed confidence after a recent trial at Sha Tin on 20 February, in which the colt finished strongly ahead of Romantic Warrior. “His last trial was good. He’s still showing his form,” Yiu said. “Voyage Bubble is very straightforward, never puts a step wrong, and he’ll run well again. But we know it’s a big task this time.”
The HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup will see a six-horse field lining up: Ensued from gate one, Beauty Joy in gate two, Winning Wing in gate three, Romantic Warrior in gate four, My Wish in gate five, and Voyage Bubble in gate six. The Sha Tin card begins at 12.30pm with the Class 4 Citi Wealth Handicap over 1800 metres, followed by the G1 Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800 metres at 4.45pm, with the Gold Cup scheduled for 3.35pm.
Purton and Yiu remain cautiously optimistic, aware of the challenge posed by Romantic Warrior but confident that Voyage Bubble’s class and preparation could see him emerge as a serious contender in Sunday’s feature.
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