Voyage Bubble will bid to add another top-level triumph to an already distinguished career when he lines up in the HK$24 million Champions Mile at Sha Tin on 26 April, with trainer Ricky Yiu confident the reigning star still has the appetite and ability for the biggest stage.
Yiu believes the seven-year-old’s greatest asset is not merely speed or stamina, but the intelligence that has allowed him to excel across a remarkable range of distances. That versatility carried him from early sprint success to Classic glory in the 2023 Hong Kong Derby, before he completed a memorable Triple Crown campaign over 2400 metres.
“At first, I thought he was only a miler,” Yiu said. “I never imagined he could win the Triple Crown. You need a very good mindset to cope with a range of distances because not many horses can do that.”
Those achievements have helped establish Voyage Bubble among Hong Kong racing’s modern standouts. He has finished in the first three in 25 of 32 starts, winning 12 times and earning more than HK$131 million in prize money.
The Champions Mile now offers him the chance to complete a notable set of elite mile victories. He has already landed back-to-back editions of the Hong Kong Mile and the Stewards’ Cup, leaving this late-season feature as the missing piece on his résumé.
Yiu said the gelding’s recent preparation has focused on sharpening fitness and trimming condition.
“He knows what he’s doing,” the trainer said. “I’ve given him a bit more workload. He’s a very good eater and I’ve tried to cut his weight down, so this means one more lap or an extra bit of slow work in training.”
Voyage Bubble was second in last year’s running before finishing third in the Chairman’s Trophy on his latest appearance under 128lb, conceding weight to most of his rivals. That followed a below-par fifth over 2000 metres in the Hong Kong Gold Cup, but connections took encouragement from his latest effort.
“He’s pulled up fine,” Yiu said. “That was quite a good performance when he finished third. Next time it is set weights too.”
Jerry Chau, who keeps the ride, believes experience aboard the horse can make a difference this time.
“I was really happy,” Chau said. “We did our best last time. I have more of a feeling of him now because I’ve ridden him once before. I know what he needs and I think next time I can be even better with him.”
Yiu will also saddle Sunlight Power, who has been booked to be ridden by Australian Group 1-winning jockey Ethan Brown, set to begin his short-term Hong Kong licence next week.
The trainer hopes a favourable barrier can help the chestnut improve on his recent Chairman’s Trophy eighth. Sunlight Power was third in the 2025 Champions Mile behind Red Lion and Voyage Bubble and now returns for another crack at one of the season’s premier mile contests.
“I’ve put Ethan Brown on Sunlight Power,” Yiu said. “He’s done well in Australia. We need a good draw. He’s running against the big boys, but a good draw will help him.”
With a proven champion chasing history and a fresh international rider adding intrigue, the Champions Mile is shaping as one of Sha Tin’s headline attractions later this month.
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