In the most coveted race on the local calendar, Classic Sale graduate Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) produced one of the most remarkable performances witnessed on a Hong Kong racetrack in years when winning the Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin.
Trapped no better than three deep for the entirety of the 2000m journey, the Ricky Yiu-trained 4YO defied the bad luck in running to surge late and claim an extraordinary victory.
Tonight’s win completed a clean sweep of the Hong Kong 4YO Series of 2023 for Inglis graduates, with Voyage Bubble winning the Hong Kong Classic Mile before his Derby victory, while fellow Inglis Classic Sale graduate Super Sunny Sing claimed the Classic Cup.
Voyage Bubble defeated Tuchel tonight, with race favourite and fellow Classic Sale graduate Beauty Eternal a close-up third and another Classic graduate, Keefy, completing a 1-3-4 for Inglis in the prestigious contest.
Yiu purchased Voyage Bubble for a sale-topping $380,000 at the 2020 Classic Sale, where he was offered by his breeders Torryburn Stud, who also sold the Derby fifth placegetter Straight Arron through the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Voyage Bubble is the third Stakes horse and first G1 winner for his dam Raheights, who Torryburn raced and have enjoyed great success breeding with.
“She’s been such a wonderful mare, a foundation mare for us, we raced her and she’s just such a beautiful horse and one of the favourites at the farm, she just keeps throwing winner after winner,’’ Torryburn’s John Cornish said.
“We’ve had some great success in Hong Kong over the years, I guess especially with Hot King Prawn but this is a wonderful result. They love us in Hong Kong, we keep selling them winners!
“Voyage Bubble made what was a lot of money for a Deep Field back then but credit to Ricky, he saw plenty in him and paid a lot for him but I guess it looks cheap now.
“We really couldn’t be prouder with this result, our record of selling horses to Hong Kong is probably second-to-none for a small stud farm like us but long may it continue.’’
Torryburn will offer a draft of eight yearlings at the Easter Sale, which begins in 15 days at Riverside.
“They’re all truly fantastic, we topped the sale by averages last year and I can’t see us doing much worse than that this year,’’ Cornish said.
“It’s just an outstanding draft, there’s something there for everyone. We keep producing winner after winner, we obviously bred and sold Home Affairs a couple of years ago through the Easter Sale and we’re very proud of all the success and think there’s much more of it ahead.’’
Voyage Bubble has now won $HK24.2 million with five wins from 11 starts.
