Happy Valley Selections
(Wednesday, May 28, 2025)
Race 1: #4 Sky Prophet, #5 Ever Smart, #8 Gallant Goody, #6 Joyful Life
Race 2: #6 Ragnarr, #4 Camp Fire, #9 So Awesome, #7 Hoss
Race 3: #1 Beauty Viva, #10 Hakka Radiance, #8 Perfect Pairing, #7 Management Folks
Race 4: #6 Island Buddy, #5 Thunder Prince, #9 Rewarding Twinkle, #3 Sweet Briar
Race 5: #1 Prestige Good, #5 Sight Supreme, #11 Jumbo Fortune, #12 Super Sicario
Voyage Bubble aced his first test racing beyond 1 1/4 miles, rolling to an easy win Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse in the Group 1, $1.1 million Champions and Chater Cup and becoming Hong Kong’s second Triple Crown winner and first in 31 years.
Patiently ridden from fifth by James McDonald, Voyage Bubble cruised to the lead while barely being asked with 250 meters left to race and strolled across the wire 3 1/2 lengths to the good, completing the only other local Triple Crown since River Verdon pulled off the feat in 2003-04.
Lake Victoria completed a Group 1 double Sunday at The Curragh for trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore, winning the Irish 1000 Guineas by 2 1/4 lengths.
Her facile victory came one race after Moore rode the O’Brien-trained Los Angeles to a hard-fought victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Proven at 1 1/4 miles, the outsider Kamunyak handled her debut at 1 1/2 miles with an upset win in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse.
Kamunyak, who paid $52.90 in American pools, closed from 12th of 18 with a wide rally to outfinish 2-1 favorite Arma Veloce by a head. Ridden by Andrasch Starke, Kamunyak made steady progress in the last half-mile.
“The pace was not so fast in the second half of the race,” Starke told Japan Racing Association publicity. “Before the homestretch, I moved to the outside, where she responded very well.
A passive ride might have cost Field of Gold victory in the English 2000 Guineas earlier on May 3 at Newmarket, but there was no stopping the colt Saturday at The Curragh in the Irish 2000 Guineas.
With Colin Keane riding for the first time, Field of Gold raced sixth of nine coming out of the little right-handed dogleg and onto the long straightaway down which most of the one-mile Guineas is contested. Racing about four paths from the fence and with no cover, Field of Gold relaxed for Keane through the early stages, awaiting his cue.
Bidding for his first major race win in Hong Kong, Tom Marquand hopes stamina will prove decisive when he partners Dubai Honour in the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (25 May).
Bracing for a clash with Hong Kong’s four-time Group 1 winner Voyage Bubble, who is yet to race beyond 2000m, Marquand hopes Dubai Honour’s proven staying ability will give William Haggas’ charge the edge.
While American racing voices shout back and forth about the spacing of the Triple Crown, no one in Hong Kong pays their Triple Crown a whole lot of heed. It’s only a point of increased conversation this season because Voyage Bubble on Sunday at Sha Tin has a chance to become the first Hong Kong Triple Crown winner since River Verdon pulled off the feat 31 years ago.
Lake Victoria raced five times at age 2 and won three Group 1s, the last of them the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar. Swelter raced once at age 2 and won a maiden race at Leopardstown. Yet there might not be much between the two fillies when they meet Sunday at The Curragh in the Irish 1000 Guineas.
For the reigning Australian Horse of the Year, Pride of Jenni has not had a campaign befitting such an honor.
A 7-year-old mare, Pride of Jenni has won 3 of 9 starts since the season began in August, but has lost six starts in Group 1 races.
There is time to win at the highest level in Friday’s Group 1 Doomben Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Doomben Racecourse in Brisbane.
Pride of Jenni, a three-time Group 1 winner in her title year in the 2023-2024 season, was the 5-2 second choice in early betting for the $641,600 Doomben Cup as of Thursday.
Sha Tin Selections
(Sunday, May 25, 2025)
Race 1: #1 Quick Money, #8 Babieca, #4 Light Years Glory, #10 Hyannis Star
Race 2: #7 Invincible Ibis, #10 Goldentronicmighty, #3 Call Me Gorgeous, #2 Awesome Treasure
Race 3: #10 Loveisintheair, #9 Honest Witness, #1 Giddy Up, #6 Copartner Fleet
Race 4: #1 Packing Hermod, #2 Young Champion, #6 Dancing Code, #7 Mickely
Race 5: #3 Super Love, #1 Meowth, #6 Ka Ying Glory, #4 Monarch County
