test

SARGA.CO – The long-standing Triple Crown title in Hong Kong horse racing was finally broken last weekend after three decades. Racehorse Voyage Bubble claimed the prestigious Triple Crown title by winning the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse on May 25, 2025.

This victory also marked a clean sweep of the three challenging Group 1 races at the end of the Hong Kong championship season.

The last horse to achieve the Triple Crown was River Verdon, around 32 years ago in the 1993–1994 season. 

At that time, River Verdon won all three major races—at 1600 meters, 2000 meters, and 2400 meters—in a single season.

Tension escalated as jockey Zac Purton accelerated his mount Ensued, creating a three-horse formation at the front. This movement opened a path for Voyage Bubble to surge forward and dominate the track with ease.

At 300 meters from the finish line, Voyage Bubble’s lead became unassailable, finishing 3.5 lengths ahead of second-place Rubylot.

Cap Ferrat took third, while the only international entry, Dubai Honour, finished fourth.

McDonald noted that Voyage Bubble surged impressively from the 600-meter mark. The sense of victory grew stronger as the horse picked up speed and avoided any missteps.

“I had a smooth run the whole way. He’s a brilliant horse—he keeps raising the bar and continues to surprise me every time I ride him,” McDonald added.

Meanwhile, Yiu Sang, a trainer who has handled several racehorses over the years—including Sacred Kingdom and Fairy King Prawn—expressed both hope and confidence as he aims for his first victory on the 2,400-meter track, a distance rarely featured in Hong Kong championships.

Yiu had nothing but high praise for Voyage Bubble, whom he described as a true athletic horse worthy of top-tier racehorse status.

“When we first raced him at 1,200 and 1,400 meters, it felt like a game to him. The whole team was thrilled,” said Yiu.