Tag: Beauty Eternal

Voyage Bubble ‘Bursts’ Onto Scene In Stewards’ Cup

Make no mistake. Even a sidelined Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) remains the king of the hill among Hong Kong milers, if not the entire planet.

The 8-year-old showed he still had plenty to give with a remarkable first-up performance from a terrible draw in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile Dec. 10, and the horse he beat that day, Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), showed that his effort was anything but a one-off, outlasting Beauty Eternal (Aus) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in Sunday's G1 Stewards' Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Having belied rough odds to cause a surprise in last year's BMW Hong Kong Derby over 10 furlongs, Voyage Bubble has been kept to the mile thus far this season, and his effort last month ensured that he'd have the target on his back Sunday. The $1.90 favourite put himself right into the early mix, as California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) set a modest tempo in advance of Beauty Eternal. When the latter pushed away from his spot at the fence, Voyage Bubble was hung out three deep at the 600 metres, but was still going well, as the longer-winded Straight Arron (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) launched a four-wide bid at the top of the straight. Zac Purton sent Beauty Eternal past the pacesetter approaching the furlong grounds, but Voyage Bubble had his measure and finished his race off slightly the better for the victory. Beauty Joy (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) ran on decently for third.

“I was in a nice, controlling position where I felt like if the pace slackened–which it did–that I was in a free-rolling position and I had enough room around so that I could go when I wanted to go and it worked out perfectly,” said jockey James McDonald, who recently completed a short-term contract in Hong Kong and was jetting in from Australia for Sunday's ride. “He put in a fantastic run in the International Mile and backed it up today. There's no heir apparent to Golden Sixty, but we're happy to be the next man jogging on the spot, so to speak, and we're probably lucky the champ wasn't there.”

Trainer Ricky Yiu has given Voyage Bubble an entry for the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Mar. 30 and is also considering the G1 Doncaster Mile H. at Randwick at The Championships a week later. For his part, McDonald believes Voyage Bubble would not be out of his depth.

“He's going to be a force to be reckoned with here and a flagbearer for the horses here and I'm just looking forward to seeing where he fits in, obviously being such a young, progressive horse,” McDonald said.

 

 

 

Pedigree Notes:

As previously mentioned, Deep Field is the leading sire in Hong Kong by number of winners and progeny earnings. Voyage Bubble is the stallion's second elite-level scorer in Hong Kong, joining Longines Hong Kong Sprint hero Sky Field (Aus), and fourth overall. Deep Field, who was removed from stud duties at Newgate Farm last year due to an inability to get his mares in foal, is now the sire of 16 winners overall at group level. Rahy has now been represented by 20 Group 1/Grade I winners out of his daughters.

Given the sire's popularity locally, the Hong Kong Jockey Club signed for three yearlings at the recently concluded Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale for A$1.775 million, including a son of listed-placed Merited (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) for A$800,000.

Torryburn Stud, also the breeders of Hong Kong Group 1 winner Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}), raced the dam of Voyage Bubble to four wins from 26 starts and she has since produced seven winners from seven to race, including the Group 3 winner Diddums (Aus) and the 4-year-old gelding Seventies Hit (Aus) (Your Song {Aus}), a maiden winner at Beaudesert in Queensland Dec. 30.

A half-sister to Listed Rockingham S. winner multiple Group 2-placed Bannock (Ire) (Bertolini) and Australian stakes winner Moulin (Aus) (Reset {Aus}), Raheights has not produced a foal since Seventies Hit and was most recently covered by Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) last Nov. 7. Voyage Bubble's third dam produced Canadian Horse of the Year Never Retreat (Smart Strike).

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
STEWARDS' CUP-G1, HK$13,000,000, Sha Tin, 1-21, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.97, gd.
1–VOYAGE BUBBLE (AUS), 126, g, 5, by Deep Field (Aus)
1st Dam: Raheights (Aus), by Rahy
2nd Dam: Laoub, by Red Ransom
3rd Dam: Lisieux, by Steady Growth
1ST GROUP WIN, 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (A$380,000 Ylg '20 INGFEB). O-Sunshine and Moonlight Syndicate; B-Torryburn Stud (NSW); T-Ricky Yiu; J-James McDonald; HK$7,280,000. Lifetime Record: 15-6-4-2, HK$41,052,975. *1/2 to Diddums (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), GSW-Aus, $164,688. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Beauty Eternal (Aus), 126, g, 5, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Ithacan Queen (NZ), by Savabeel (Aus). (A$90,000 Ylg '20 INGFEB). O-Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen; B-P Raftopoulos (Vic); T-John Size; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,730,000.
3–Beauty Joy (Aus), 126, g, 7, Sebring (Aus)–Impressive Jeuney (Aus), by Jeune (GB). O-Eleanor Kwok Lai Kwan Chun & Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen; B-Impressive Racing Pty Ltd (WA); T-Tony Cruz; J-Derek Leung; HK$1,495,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1, 1 1/4. Odds: 9-10, 23-10, 11-1.
Also Ran: California Spangle (Ire), Fantastic Treasure, Straight Arron (Aus), Russian Emperor (Ire), Healthy Happy (Aus). Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing.

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Stewards’ Cup Offers ‘Golden’ Opportunity

Death, taxes and Hong Kong winners by Deep Field (Aus).

Of life's surest eventualities, the latter is definitely worthy of inclusion, and Voyage Bubble (Aus) will look to add to the stallion's impressive local record when he goes in search of a maiden Group 1 success in the G1 Stewards' Cup Sunday at Sha Tin.

The chances of Voyage Bubble–and those of his seven rivals–have been done no damage by the absence of G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile hero Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), who is on the mend and in slow work after suffering a minor injury. He has three months to get ready for the G1 FWD Champions Mile in late April, but in the meantime, the spotlight is there to be stolen–at least temporarily.

The upset winner of last year's age-restricted Hong Kong Classic Mile and BMW Hong Kong Derby, Voyage Bubble was fourth to the reigning Horse of the Year in last year's Champions Mile and has run well without winning in two starts this term. A first-up third to Beauty Eternal (Aus) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Beauty Joy (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) in the G2 Jockey Club Mile Nov. 19, he outran a quote of $31 to finish closest to Golden Sixty on international day. James McDonald jets back into the SAR for trainer Ricky Yiu.

“Let's see how much this horse can give,” said Yiu. “The impression I have is there is another level. I would say (I am) optimistic. He will definitely perform again.”

Deep Field is the runaway leading sire in Hong Kong by number of winners (16) and progeny earnings (HK$36.7 million).

A good run Sunday could translate into a first start on foreign soil for Voyage Bubble.

“We'll see how he goes on Sunday and then we can definitely think about possible races for him to run overseas. Dubai and one of the races in Australia, maybe–there are a few options there,” said Yiu, who has entered Voyage Bubble for the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Mar. 30.

Beauty Eternal could not repeat the dose in the Hong Kong Mile, finishing an even sixth as a $4.60 (18-5) chance. He will attempt to give trainer John Size a record-extending eighth win in the Stewards' Cup.

“Beauty Eternal's trials have looked good,” said Purton, who carried the Patrick Kwok silks to victory aboard Beauty Generation (NZ) in 2019. “He seems to have come through his run in December in good shape and it'll be good to be back on him–hopefully he can produce his best.”

 

 

 

Straight Arron (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was beaten 3/4 of a length into fourth–with some trouble–by Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup and is using this as a prep for either the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) or potential overseas targets in Qatar and/or Dubai. The same applies for Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was sixth here before taking the Amir Trophy last February in Doha.

California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was third to Golden Sixty in last year's Stewards' Cup, but needs to lift on his current form, which includes a 13th in the Hong Kong Mile last time.

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‘Bubble’ Pops At Giant Price In Hong Kong Derby

An all-the-way winner of January's Hong Kong Classic Mile under a perfectly rationed ride from the visiting Jamie Kah, Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) capitulated without much of a fight after leading through the opening mile of the Hong Kong Classic Cup, fading into sixth behind Super Sunny Sing (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}).

When connections landed gate 14 at Thursday's barrier draw, the already difficult task at hand seemed that much more daunting, as valuable energy would need to be burned to get across to lead, assuming–of course–that was the plan. But trainer Ricky Yiu and jockey Alexis Badel tore the script for Sunday's HK$24-million BMW Hong Kong Derby into bits, settling the gelding last and sustaining a long and wide ride to cause a 45-1 boilover. Classic Mile runner-up Tuchel (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), the mount of Ryan Moore, was outfinished at the fence, while favoured stablemate Beauty Eternal (Aus) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was third.

“Of course, this is the most prestigious race in Hong Kong racing and I'm very, very happy and grateful to win this Derby race,” said trainer Ricky Yiu, best known for training the top sprinters Sacred Kingdom (Aus) and Fairy King Prawn (Aus). “Over the trip, 2000 metres, I was a little bit doubtful, and then again with the wide draw. We needed to try something different. We even looked at the previous Derby races, horses drawn from the outside and where they finished and where they made a move,” he explained.

Keefy (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) was kicked into the early lead from his low gate by Derek Leung and set a dawdling tempo from Encountered (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}). Tuchel landed in the box seat with Beauty Eternal and Zac Purton following his every move, while Voyage Bubble caboosed them into the first bend. Sensing the lack of speed and knowing the Derby was bound to turn into a sit-sprint, Badel slipped Voyage Bubble some rein with better than six furlongs to go and by the time the field had reached the second turn and with a half-mile to race, he was three wide and only about five lengths off the leader.

Continuing to improve, but having not yet been asked for his best, Voyage Bubble was poised to pounce outside of Beauty Eternal as Keefy turned them in. The favourite was given a dig by Purton a furlong and a half from home, but he wasn't able to put any sort of a gap on the stubborn Voyage Bubble to his outside or the rail-skimming Tuchel. Four across the course at the 150m, Voyage Bubble managed to conjure up one final surge and was home narrowly over Tuchel.

It made for a fairy-tale ending to a tumultuous week for Badel, who was unceremoniously booted from defending champion Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (see below).

“Being a jockey, you go through ups and downs and this season has been very difficult for me,” said Badel, who became the first Frenchman to win the Derby since Maxime Guyon on Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) in 2011. “I came back from injury and suspensions and it means everything to win such a big race in Hong Kong as a jockey. [Voyage Bubble] was brilliant and I'm very happy for the connections, the owners and myself. I still can't believe it, actually. It's like the race isn't finished yet. It's very special.”

Pedigree Notes:

While officially recognised as a listed restricted stakes, Voyage Bubble is one of two-big race winners in Hong Kong for the increasingly popular Deep Field, whose son Sky Field (Aus) took out the 2021 G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. Winning breeder Torryburn Stud is also responsible for the popular Hong Kong Group 1-winning sprinter Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}).

Voyage Bubble is one of six winners from seven to race from his dam, whose other produce include Group 3 P J Bell S. winner Diddums and the listed-placed Brettan. Raheights is a half-sister to Bannock (Ire) (Bertolini), winner of the Listed Rockingham S. and placed in the G2 Richmond S. and G2 July S. for Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed al Maktoum and Mark Johnston as well as Australian listed winner Moulin Lady (Aus) (Reset {Aus}). The stakes-placed third dam counts Canadian Horse of the Year Never Retreat (Smart Strike) as one of her 10 winners from 14 to the races. The last-listed produce out of Raheights is the 3-year-old gelding Seventies Hit (Aus), second in a Wagga Wagga maiden in two starts.

 

 

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
BMW HONG KONG DERBY 2023-LR, HK$24,000,000, Sha Tin, 3-19, NH/SH4yo, 2000mT, 2:02.78, gd.
1–VOYAGE BUBBLE (AUS), 126, g, 4, by Deep Field (Aus)
1st Dam: Raheights (Aus), by Rahy
2nd Dam: Laoub, by Red Ransom
3rd Dam: Lisieux, by Steady Growth
(A$380,000 Ylg '20 INGFEB). O-Sunshine and Moonlight Syndicate; B-Torryburn Stud (NSW); T-Ricky Yiu; J-Alexis Badel; HK$13,680,000. Lifetime Record: 11-5-3-1, HK$25,597,725. *1/2 to Diddums (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), GSW-Aus, $164,688.
2–Tuchel (NZ), 126, g, 4, Redwood (GB)–Trista Rossa (Aus), by Testa Rossa (Aus). (NZ$130,000 Ylg '20 NZBJAN). O-Philip Chan Kwok Chung; B-G Harvey; T-John Size; J-Ryan Moore; HK$5,280,000.
3–Beauty Eternal (Aus), 126, g, 4, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Ithacan Queen (NZ), by Savabeel (Aus). (A$90,000 Ylg '20 INGFEB). O-Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen; B-P Raftopolous (Vic); T-John Size; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,400,000.
Margins: SHD, NO, HD. Odds: 45-1, 10-1, 13-10.
Also Ran: Keefy (Aus), Straight Arron (Aus), Sword Point (Aus), Sweet Encounter (NZ), Super Sunny Sing (Aus), Encountered (Ire), Galaxy Witness (Aus), Bon's A Pearla (Aus), Beautyverse (NZ), Atullibigeal (Aus), Flagship Warrior (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.

Lucky Sweynesse Too Strong in QSJC

Desperately unlucky when sixth as the odds-on favourite behind Wellington in December's Hong Kong Sprint, Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) won his third straight since Sunday, posting a relatively comfortable 1 1/4-length victory over G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile hero California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup.

California Spangle, off at 3-5 and cutting back in trip after finishing third to Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in the G1 Stewards' Cup over a mile Jan. 29, jumped alertly from the rail and looked to hold all the aces, as he galloped them along at nothing more than a hack canter in sectional times well outside standard. But James McDonald, fresh off his victory about the outstanding Anamoe (Aus) (Street Boss) in Saturday's G1 George Ryder S. at Rosehill, kept Lucky Sweynesse within striking distance at all times, and even though California Spangle sprinted home in :21.99, the 4-year-old quickened even more impressively in :21.74 en route to the victory. Defending champion Wellington was well-beaten in third.

“What makes him so talented is that he's not only a very fast horse, but he can sustain the speed over seven furlongs, which not many sprinters can do,” said McDonald, who aslsso teamed with Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) to win the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup in December. “So he's got a great attribute of conserving energy and building into a race like a pretty good horse.”

Winning trainer Manfred Man said Lucky Sweynesse will go for a sweep of the Hong Kong Speed Series in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize back over 1200 metres Apr. 30, with a trip overseas for the G1 Yasuda Kinen not out of the question.

Pedigree Notes:

The lone Group 1 scorer for his sire (by Lonhro {Aus}), Lucky Sweynesse is a full-brother to G1 Queensland Oaks placegetter Signora Nera (NZ). From the extended family of champion Rose of Danehill (Aus) (Danehill) and Group 1 winner Wrap Around (Aus) (Bletchingly {Aus}), Lucky Sweynesse has a 3-year-old half-brother by Per Incanto and a yearling half-brother by Contributer (Ire). Madonna Mia was most recently served by Sweynesse.

 

 

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000, Sha Tin, 3-19, 3yo/up, 1400mT, 1:21.12, gd.
1–LUCKY SWEYNESSE (NZ), 126, g, 4, by Sweynesse (Aus)
1st Dam: Madonna Mia (NZ) (SW-NZ, $134,764), by Red Clubs (Ire)
2nd Dam: Hill of Hope (Aus), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Macozie (Aus), by Marscay (Aus)
(NZ$90,000 2yo '20 NZBRTR). O-Cheng Ming Leung, Cheng Yu Tung, Cheng Mei Mei & Cheng Yu Wai; B-P L Dombrowski, Explosive Breeding Ltd & S A Sharrock; T-Manfred Man; J-James McDonald; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 14-10-2-1, HK$29,475,200. *Full to Signora Nera (NZ), G1SP-Aus, GSP-NZ, $145,027. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–California Spangle (Ire), 126, g, 5, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Pearlitas Passion (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFORB). O-Howard Liang Yum Shing; B-M Enright; T-Tony Cruz; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,640,000.
3–Wellington (Aus), 126, g, 6, All Too Hard (Aus)–Mihiri (Aus), by More Than Ready. (A$70,000 Ylg '18 MMGCYS). O-Mr & Mrs Michael Cheng Wing On & Jeffrey Cheng Man Cheong; B-Kia Ora Stud Pty Ltd, David Paradise, Steve McCann; T-Richard Gibson; J-Ryan Moore; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3, NK. Odds: 8-5, 3-5, 31-5.
Also Ran: Courier Wonder (NZ), Waikuku (Ire). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.

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‘Size’-ing Up a Fourth Derby

Hong Kong's 4-year-old Classic series concludes with the running of the HK$24-million BMW Hong Kong Derby Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse, and while no one will confuse any of the 14 runners signed on for Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), who became the second to sweep the series in 2020, or last year's winner Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who has gone on to multiple Group 1 victories in unrestricted company, it is a race that–in theory–is wide open.

Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) was the front-running winner of the first leg of the series, the Hong Kong Classic Mile, as Jamie Kah lulled them to sleep, but, as commentator Mark McNamara put it, 'the Bubble burst' 300 metres from the wire in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) when he capitulated readily and Super Sunny Sing (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) whistled home down the centre for Golden Sixty's jockey Vincent Ho. Neither of those gallopers will be fancied to add a second leg in the Derby, but rather Beauty Eternal (Aus) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) is the likely favourite despite making his Classic series debut. Zac Purton, who won the 2015 Derby aboard Luger (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), rides from gate seven for the latter's trainer John Size. The perennial leading conditioner is in search of a fourth victory in the domestic centrepiece, all since 2012.

“I think it's fine,” Size said of the draw. “Zac has options from there and I'm sure that he'll have a better idea of what he wants to do according to who's drawn around him, but I think seven is fine. It wouldn't seem like it's any great disadvantage.”

Super Sunny Sing will rightfully have his fair share of admirers off a fast-finishing victory over Sword Point (Aus) (American Pharoah) in the Classic Cup, while Galaxy Witness (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) also got home strongly from the back of the field to be third three weekends ago.

Click here for our special BMW Hong Kong Derby insert.

The nominal Sunday co-feature is the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup over seven furlongs, where G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile victor California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) figures a strong favourite against the two most recent winners of the race–Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) in 2021 and last year's victor Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}).

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