Ricky Yiu says he is assessing whether Voyage Bubble will drop back to a mile for December’s Hong Kong International Races after his Triple Crown hero was no match for Romantic Warrior over 2000m on Sunday at Sha Tin.
Voyage Bubble was unable to live with the returning Romantic Warrior in the highly-anticipated showdown, as Danny Shum’s superstar swept past Ricky Yiu’s seven-year-old to prevail by a length and a half in a BOCHK Jockey Club Cup that turned into a muddling affair.
The race transformed into somewhat of a sprint after Voyage Bubble set an extraordinarily slow early pace, having assumed the lead under Zac Purton. He took the field along approximately 30 lengths slower than standard time for the first 1200m.
“He ran well,” Yiu told Idol Horse. “Originally, we didn’t want to lead but there was no pace so we were forced to go forward and lead.
“The pace was very slow and I think Romantic Warrior benefitted from that slow tempo. But Voyage Bubble still ran a good race when you consider everything.”
In a race where fifth-place Bundle Award recorded the fastest final 400m sectional at Sha Tin this season of 21.4s, Romantic Warrior came home in a remarkable 21.73s and Voyage Bubble in 22.04s. For context, Ka Ying Rising clocked 22.02s over the final two furlongs in the Jockey Club Sprint on the same day.
Sunday’s Group 2 feast at Sha Tin also featured the Jockey Club Mile, won by Pierre Ng’s Galaxy Patch in a tight finish.
That result, which saw odds-on favourite My Wish cling on for fourth, combined with Voyage Bubble’s defeat to Romantic Warrior, has led Yiu to consider his options for next month’s Hong Kong International Races.
While the Hong Kong Cup was Yiu’s original plan for Voyage Bubble, the trainer said he will discuss the possibility of reverting to a mile with connections.
“Looking ahead, I’ll discuss it with the owner because we have options now,” Yiu said.
The trainer added that Voyage Bubble will be entered for both the Hong Kong Mile, which he won last year, and the Hong Kong Cup.
“We haven’t entered him for the Vase, but he’s in the mile and the 2000m, so we’ll have a chat and see from there.
“We know Romantic Warrior will be very tough to beat, but as I say, I’ll discuss with the owner before confirming which way we go.”
Officials confirmed that he could be listed in both when the fields are announced by the Hong Kong Jockey Club on Wednesday. ∎
