Ricky Yiu confident with Voyage Bubble ahead of G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup

By Leo Schlink

Ricky Yiu believes Voyage Bubble is perfectly poised to extend a dominating season after drawing barrier one in the HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (23 February).

Bidding for a fourth Group 1, Voyage Bubble will face nine rivals – Galaxy Patch, Chancheng Glory, Ensued, Happy Together, Straight Arron, Five G Patch, La City Blanche, Sword Point and Winning Dragon – in quest a 10th career victory.

To be ridden by James McDonald, Voyage Bubble will attempt to land the second leg of the Triple Crown Series after winning the HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) on 19 January. Victory in the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater (2400m) on 25 May would deliver a HK$10 million Triple Crown bonus.

“He (Voyage Bubble) is doing well. He had one good gallop on the grass proper before his trial (on 13 February). His trial was also good and he showed something again in that trial. He’s held his form really well. I couldn’t fault him.”

Voyage Bubble has won three of four races this campaign, with his sole defeat coming at the hands of Galaxy Patch in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) on 13 October, when he conceded some of his rivals 20lb.

Yiu is also confident Straight Arron can figure in the placings this weekend as the gelding returns to 2000m following his ninth behind Chancheng Glory in the G3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) on 31 January.

Luke Ferraris takes over from injured Vincent Ho and Yiu believes Straight Arron is well suited by the field size and extension in distance.

“There are only 10 runners and I believe he will finish in the first three,” Yiu said. “He loves the trip and he’s doing well in track work. I strongly believe that both of them (Voyage Bubble and Straight Arron) will do the job.”

California Spangle provided Brenton Avdulla with his first major Hong Kong success by winning the 2024 G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and the Australian is hopeful Tony Cruz’s sprinter can reprise his best form on Sunday.

Pitted against eight opponents led by champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising, California Spangle will jump from barrier seven in search of a fourth Group 1.

“I’m looking forward to (riding) him, he’s got to improve. Obviously, it’s going to be a big ask against the good horse (Ka Ying Rising), but I couldn’t fault him in his trials,” Avdulla said of Tony Cruz’s flag bearer.

“I haven’t been happy with his runs, so I’ve left it to Tony to get him right. I was happy enough with his trial, so we’ll see how he performs under pressure there on the weekend because he’s been such a good horse to us.”

Bidding for a 10th consecutive win – and his first at 1400m – Ka Ying Rising is aiming to land the second leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series after a record-breaking victory in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m).

If successful on Sunday, Ka Ying Rising could clinch a HK$5 million bonus if he also snared the HK$22 million Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) on 27 April.

Ka Ying Rising and California Spangle face fellow Group 1 winners Beauty Eternal and Invincible Sage and also Helios Express, Howdeepisyourlove, Red Lion, Patch Of Theta and Mugen.

With 24 wins for the season, including a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (19 February), Avdulla will also join forces this weekend with Cruz’s Five G Patch in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup.

Sunday’s (23 February) Sha Tin meeting starts with the Class 4 Citi Wealth Handicap (1400m) at 1pm.