Son of DEEP FIELD Wins Time Honoured Hong Kong Derby

20 Mar 23

Voyage Bubble, a son of successful sire DEEP FIELD topped the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale at $380,000 and he has proven to be a wise investment for his HK connections when he won the HK$24 million Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

In the most coveted race on the Hong Kong calendar, Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) produced one of the most remarkable performances witnessed on a Hong Kong racetrack in years.

Voyage Bubble had won the first leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series – the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 29 January – however wasn’t amongst the top fancies in betting for the HK Derby after finishing sixth behind Super Sunny Sing in the traditional Derby lead-up, the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 26 February. In fact, Voyage Bubble, went to the post as the rank outsider.

His trainer Ricky Yiu and jockey Alexis Badel certainly believed in him and were confident that because he had drawn from the outside barrier he would be better ridden quietly, back in the field.

As the gates crashed back, Voyage Bubble was restrained to the tail allowing him to settle into a rhythm. Badel waited until the long back straight to start to improve his position, moving out and up 3-deep to sit at the girth of the favourite Beauty Eternal. As the field swung into the home straight, Voyage Bubble put in a determined effort, and stride by stride reeled in the leaders in the shadows of the post to hit the front denying Tuchel (Redwood (GB) by a short head with Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner) in third place.

Jockey Alexis Badel said on return to the winner’s circle:

“Everybody thought the gate was bad, but it was actually probably the reason I won the race because I had to come back. We had to change our plan and the tempo wasn’t very quick, and I had my horse relax early and I saved ground and then I had no hesitation to improve a bit on the back straight. The horse was tough, he’s got a great heart and he really showed some quality in the straight.

“He 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.

“Being a jockey, you go through ups and downs and this season has been very difficult for me. I came back from injury and suspensions, and it means everything to win such a big race in Hong Kong as a jockey.

“All you are really looking for are the Group 1s, the major races and the Hong Kong Derby is just history, so I’m very grateful to Ricky, his stable and all the connections – the people who gave me the support on the horse and I’m very, very happy. I feel blessed that I was able to produce such a good performance today and the horse was superb.”

Hong Kong Champion Trainer in 2019/20, Ricky Yiu has been renowned for his association with outstanding Australian bred sprinters such as Sacred Kingdom and Fairy King Prawn and this was his first Hong Kong Derby success.

At 65, Yiu has been given the chance to extend his career beyond the usual retirement age providing he satisfies certain performance criteria and, with a double today, he sits in second place in this season’s championship with 41 wins behind 11-time champion John Size (46).

An elated Ricky You said: “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.

“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.

“We just stuck to the plan. He had to be relaxed at the first bend, as relaxed as possible, and make the run from the back stretch slowly, gradually. Alexis did a very good job, a tremendous job.

“Over the 2000m we tried something different, and he (Voyage Bubble) still managed to perform. He is an incredible horse. This horse is very versatile, over the mile or 2000m. Obviously he’s got a great heart.”

Voyage Bubble was bought by his trainer at the 2020 Inglis Classic and is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Diddums and stakes-placed Brettan. He is the sixth winner from seven to race and the third stakes winner out of the now retired producer Raheights.

With five wins and four placings from 11 starts, Voyage Bubble is the consummate professional and was the most expensive of 20 yearlings by Deep Field sold at Inglis Classic in 2020 topping the entire sale.

Voyage Bubble is one of 24 stakes-winners for Deep Field and is leading the HK Sires Premiership by earnings and winners this season.

Voyage Bubble has now won $HK24.2 million (AUD$4.6m) with five wins from 11 starts.

DEEP FIELD has 4-crops of racing age and is the Sire of 24 Stakes Winners and 23 Stakes Placegetters.

He has sired 332 Winners from 479 Starters = 69.3% and Stood at a Service Fee of $88,000 last season, up from $55,000 in 2020.