Voyage Bubble solidified his place as Hong Kong’s leading miler with a dominant defense of his HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) crown at Sha Tin on Sunday. Guided expertly by jockey James McDonald and trained by Ricky Yiu, the six-year-old added yet another feather to his cap, claiming his third Group 1 title with a confident performance. Settling behind early leaders California Spangle and Beauty Eternal, Voyage Bubble surged to the front at the 400m mark to secure victory.

“He felt amazing today, probably the best since I’ve been riding him,” McDonald shared. “He’s just so straightforward—jumps well, positions himself perfectly, and accelerates when needed. He’s an absolute joy to ride.” The Deep Field gelding, owned by the Sunshine And Moonlight Syndicate, clocked 1m 33.58s to seal his ninth career win from 23 starts, boosting his career earnings to an impressive HK$77.87 million.

Yiu, thrilled with his star’s progression, highlighted Voyage Bubble’s continued improvement. “Every time he runs, he seems to do his job a little easier. Watching him today, you can see he’s still developing, which is exciting,” he remarked. The trainer confirmed plans to pursue the prestigious Triple Crown, a feat achieved only once in Hong Kong’s history by River Verdon in 1994. The next step is the HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) in February, with the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) to follow in May.

Voyage Bubble now joins the elite ranks of horses to secure consecutive Stewards’ Cups, alongside greats like Electronic Unicorn and Good Ba Ba. His versatility and stamina have made him a standout, with Yiu optimistic about his chances at longer distances. “He was a close second in last year’s Gold Cup to Romantic Warrior, so the 2000m shouldn’t be an issue. The 2400m is a challenge, but he’s shown he has the potential to handle it,” Yiu said.

The victory capped a memorable day for Yiu, who also celebrated success in the Class 4 Peniaphobia Handicap (1200m) with Sky Joy. As Hong Kong racing moves to Happy Valley on Wednesday, Voyage Bubble’s thrilling performance leaves fans eagerly anticipating his next step toward Triple Crown glory.