Voyage Bubble battles back to repeat in Hong Kong Mile

In between the historic victories of Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior on Sunday, the underappreciated Voyage Bubble made his own appeal for recognition with a gutsy title defense in the $4.6 million Hong Kong Mile (G1) at Sha Tin.

Trained by Ricky Yiu and ridden by Zac Purton, Voyage Bubble was grappling with pacesetter Pray for Mir when Japan’s Soul Rush pounced down the lane. Soul Rush, who had been runner-up to Voyage Bubble here last year, appeared on the verge of going out a winner in his career finale.

But Voyage Bubble summoned all of his battling qualities, fought back, and prevailed by a half-length in 1:33.47. 

“I think he just showed what type of horse he is,” said Purton, who was turning a big-race double that kicked off with Ka Ying Rising. 

“He's not a horse that's going to give you a ‘wow’ performance, but he's got such a big heart that he's always up for a fight. In his own right he's an extremely good horse, a Triple Crown winner, he's come back today off the canvas to win. What an effort.”

Indeed, Voyage Bubble is unlucky to share the stage with the dazzling star power of Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior. Otherwise, he’d be celebrated as just the second Triple Crown winner in Hong Kong history after sweeping this year’s Stewards’ Cup (G1), Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1), and Champions & Chater Cup (G1). 

“The horse has great heart,” Yiu said. “A lot of credit goes to the jockey, Zac, he did it so well. It seemed to me that he’d ridden the horse for a long time, but obviously, he knew him well from his last start.”

Voyage Bubble was coming off a runner-up effort to Romantic Warrior in the Jockey Club Cup (G2), the local prep for the about 1 1/4-mile Hong Kong Cup (G1). Rather than face that titan again on Sunday, Voyage Bubble reverted in trip to the metric mile. 

Soul Rush must have wished that Voyage Bubble had opted for the Cup. 

“He ran very good; we had a good trip,” Soul Rush’s rider, Cristian Demuro, observed. “I came maybe a little bit too early, but the other horse was so strong.”

Red Lion got up for third, edging British raider Docklands. Rounding out the order of finish were Galaxy Patch; My Wish, who actually shaded Voyage Bubble for favoritism at 5-2; Patch of Theta; Beauty Joy; Pray for Mir; French hope Beauvatier; Japan’s disappointing Embroidery; Aidan O’Brien’s The Lion in Winter; Sunlight Power; and Copartner Prance. Happy Together was scratched.

Voyage Bubble’s scorecard now stands at 29-12-8-3, including wins in the 2023 Hong Kong Derby and Classic Mile as well as the 2024 Stewards’ Cup. 

“Although he’s seven, I don’t really feel the age of him,” Yiu said. “He’s still full of beans.”