Overcoming formidable circumstances, Voyage Bubble delivered a victory for true believers with his courageous 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby for Ricky Yiu and Alexis Badel at Sha Tin on Sunday (19 March).
When reflecting on winning Derby rides over the years, there is often a focus on ground-saving perfection; From the moment Voyage Bubble – who was considered suspect at 2000m because of his pedigree – drew barrier 14, Ricky and Alexis hatched a tactical plan, which proved a masterstroke.
The decision to go back to last from the start into the first turn, saving energy and allowing Voyage Bubble to find his rhythm was the platform for ultimate success. The next part of the plan, executed with devastating precision by Alexis, was to allow the horse to improve along the back straight before moving into a striking position on the home turn.
The slow pace, with an overall time of 2m 02.78s, undoubtedly assisted Voyage Bubble’s quest but he was so well managed by Alexis in building momentum that, while his final 400m of the race (22.29s) was only the third-best in the race behind runner-up Tuchel (22.27s) and fifth-placed Straight Arron (22.28s), Alexis and Ricky’s adventurous tactics proved decisive.
And so, for the third year in a row, the BMW Hong Kong Derby – the race most treasured by owners in this city – was decided by a narrow margin, with a only short head separating Voyage Bubble and Tuchel with Beauty Eternal a further head away.
Beauty Eternal had every chance and produced a creditable performance being his first time over 2000m, while Tuchel was a little bit unlucky because Ryan Moore had to switch to the inside to have a clear run, which might have cost him the race being beaten only a short head, but this should not take anything away from the winner’s tremendous performance.
It was wonderful to see Ricky win the Derby. At 65, the 2019/20 Hong Kong champion trainer is training as well as ever. Ricky is revered for his feats with outstanding sprinters such Fairy King Prawn and Sacred Kingdom, but he seems to be getting even better with age – and is sitting second in this season’s trainers’ championship with 41 wins behind John Size (46 wins).
Similarly, it was great to see Manfred Man enjoying sustained success with Lucky Sweynesse, who claimed his second major win of the season with his G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) triumph under a brilliant James McDonald ride.
Like Ricky, Manfred is excelling this season with 26 wins – with five of those coming through Lucky Sweynesse, who is now at the very top of Hong Kong’s ultra-competitive sprinting ranks.
Lucky Sweynesse’s stunning progress has seen him rise to a domestic rating of 130 after Sunday’s win – two higher than Wellington (128) and only one point lower than Golden Sixty (131), who is currently ranked on top of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings with a mark of 125.
His quality was clear on Sunday as he collected his second Group 1, sweeping over the final 400m in 21.74s to overhaul a brave California Spangle (21.99s) in a small but elite field.
On a day of highlights in front of a very healthy crowd of 58,484 who created a fantastic atmosphere, Vincent Ho became only the second home-grown jockey after Tony Cruz to win 500 races in Hong Kong.
Vincent has developed into a world-class rider and continually strives for improvement and it is no coincidence that he occupies second place in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with 54 wins for the season behind Zac Purton (106). I again congratulate Vincent on his accomplishment.
Reflecting more broadly on Sunday’s race meeting and, in fact, the entire week preceding it, I wish to thank all participants, staff, fans and BMW for their support. The BMW Hong Kong Derby, with its off-course entertainment and on-course excellence, encapsulates the very best of Hong Kong racing and marks another high point in the 2022/23 season.
I wish to again thank BMW for their tremendous support, which is critical to the success of outstanding race days such as last Sunday.
At Happy Valley on Wednesday night, the Arbuthnot Handicap is carded as Race 8 for Class 2 horses over 1650m at 10.15pm with prizemoney of $2,900,000.
The speed in the race will be good with Telecom Fighters drawn perfectly in gate three. Everyone’s Delight, who also has an inside gate, should hold the position on the leader’s back, with Red Majesty also taking up a forward position outside the leader.
Everyone’s Delight drew wide and pushed on to find the front when third behind The Irishman here on 8 February. At his next run, he sat off the speed from a rails draw to beat Handsome Twelve and Apache Pass on Sha Tin’s All Weather Track. Everyone’s Delight is drawn to get the perfect run behind the leader for Matthew Chadwick and he is a win and place chance.
Gorytus made a winning return to racing when scoring at his seasonal re-appearance over this course and distance on 8 February. Jerry Chau settled him at the back of the field before coming widest in the straight to run past the entire field and beat Encountered in the last few strides. It was an excellent training performance by Danny Shum and I make Gorytus a place chance if he can reproduce that effort.
Savaquin continues to race well at this course and distance and finished strongly from the back to beat all but The Irishman here two starts ago. He switched to the All Weather Track at his next run when fifth to Everyone’s Delight on 5 March. Savaquin will have benefitted from 10 days at Conghua since that start, is suited by the fast pace and with Hugh Bowman riding for the first time I make him a place chance.
In an open race with many other chances, I also make Nearly Fine a place chance for Vincent Ho. He won at this course and distance early in the season and was making good ground late when fifth to The Irishman in the race on 8 February and Nearly Fine will be another suited by the solid speed.
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