Trainer Ricky Yiu credits much of Voyage Bubble’s incredible success to his supreme intelligence as last season’s Triple Crown hero chases a seventh Group 1 win in the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) on FWD Champions Day (Sunday, 26 April) at Sha Tin.

Yiu said: “He’s proven that he’s a very intelligent horse. At first, I thought he was only a miler – I never imagined he could win the Triple Crown! You need a very good mindset to be able to cope with a range of distances because not many horses can do that.”

Voyage Bubble began his career winning sprint races. The Four-Year-Old Classic Series tested his stamina up to 2000m when he won the 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby, before his Triple Crown campaign stretched him to 2400m, which he conquered emphatically.

“His performances across his career have surprised me,” Yiu said. “He relaxes wherever you want him to be in the race – he’s just amazing and he’s got the guts.”

Owned by the Sunshine And Moonlight Syndicate, seven-year-old Voyage Bubble has finished in the top three in 25 of his 32 starts, including 12 wins for remarkable earnings of HK$131.32 million.

The FWD Champions Mile is the season’s third and final elite 1600m contest. It is the only one missing from Voyage Bubble’s record after consecutive wins in both the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) (2024 & 2025) and the HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) (2024 & 2025).

“He’s a horse who knows what he’s doing. I’ve given him a bit more of a workload. He’s a very good eater and I’ve tried to cut his weight down, so this means one more lap or an extra bit of slow work in training,” Yiu said.

Second behind Red Lion in the 2025 FWD Champions Mile, Voyage Bubble placed third in the G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) last start, while carrying 128lb against most of the opposition’s 123lb. That came after his lacklustre fifth – some seven lengths behind Romantic Warrior – in March’s HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m).

“He’s pulled up fine. That was quite a good performance when he finished third. Jerry Chau is on him again next start. Hopefully, he will do well. It was a good ride and a good run (in the Chairman’s Trophy) – next time it is set weights, too,” Yiu said.

Chau said: “I was really happy. We did our best last time. Lucky Sweynesse and My Wish are very strong horses, but I think he did well. The handicap made a bit of a difference. We’re running at set weights now and I think we can be more competitive.

“I have more of a feeling of him now because I’ve ridden him once before. I know what he needs and I think next time I can be even better with him.”

Yiu also saddles Sunlight Power in the FWD Champions Mile and has booked Group 1-winning Australian Ethan Brown, who commences his short-term riding licence in Hong Kong next Wednesday (22 April) at Happy Valley.

“I’ve put Ethan Brown on Sunlight Power. The new jockey is on for the Group 1, and hopefully, he can run into the money. I quite like this jockey – he’s done well in Australia,” Yiu said. “We need a good draw. He’s running against the big boys, but he does need a good draw to help him to finish in the money (first six).”

Sunlight Power was eighth last start in the Chairman’s Trophy. The chestnut has six wins and finished third in the 2025 FWD Champions Mile behind Red Lion and Voyage Bubble.

Photo: HKJC