'Bubbles' Goes One Better in Chairman's Sprint Prize

A year after going down to defeat to the world-class Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), Lucky Bubbles finally had good fortune in his corner and outfinished favored Mr Stunning to lead home a Victorian-bred 1-2 in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize, Sunday's nominal co-feature at Sha Tin, but a big race on its own merits.

Looking to shake things up a bit, connections reached out to Hugh Bowman to replace Brett Prebble in the saddle, and the Australian put Lucky Bubbles right into the race early, then took back into fourth, as Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), Dashing Fellow (Aus) (Duporth {Aus}) and Not Listenin'tome fueled the fire for the opening quarter-mile. Lucky Bubbles enjoyed the run of the race around the turn and into the stretch, but things got a bit dicey towards the furlong, as Not Listenin'tome came calling for the lead three off the fence while Lucky Bubbles was looking for room between the pacesetter and Dashing Fellow. Not Listenin'tome led between calls, but Lucky Bubbles jumped out of the ground with 100 metres to go and charged home to win narrowly. HKJC commentator Brett Davis proclaimed that 'we'll see how good he is today' when Mr Stunning was third last off the home turn. The chalk muscled Thewizardofoz (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) out of the way at the 200m, may have shied from Not Listenin'tome in the dying stages and fell just short.

“From the good draw and with a predictable race pattern, I was able to be where I anticipated I'd be just behind the speed,” Bowman told the HKJC's Andrew Hawkins. “The horse was able to travel comfortably within himself in that position because the pace was not frantic.”

It was a first Group 1 success for trainer Francis Lui.

“I still can't believe it, this is so exciting,” an emotional Lui said post-race. “I have always known he had the talent but it is great to see him get that win, he deserved that. Hopefully it is not the last one for him.”

After toying with the idea of sending Lucky Bubbles to Japan for October's G1 Sprinters' S., Lui said the slight chestnut would stay home and would have a domestic campaign towards the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint in December, a race in which he was second to Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) in 2016.

Pedigree Notes:
Hussonet, sire of the Champions Mile winner, serves as broodmare sire for Lucky Bubbles, who is one of three winners from as many to race for his stakes-placed dam, who sells as lot 1086 during the upcoming Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale from the Riversdale consignment. She is a half-sister to the dam of GSW Colorado Claire (Aus) (Hussonet) and MGSW Moonovermanhattan (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}). The deeper female family includes G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner and prominent sire Linamix (Fr). Lucky Bubbles was completing a giant weekend for his Widden Stud-based sire, who was also responsible for Saturday's G1 Schweppes Oaks victress Egg Tart (Aus). Entering the weekend, Sebring had been represented by top-level winners Dissident (Aus) and Criterion (NZ).

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
CHAIRMAN'S SPRINT PRIZE-G1, HK$14,000,000 (£1,393,381/€1,640,045/A$2,431,452/US$1,799,127), Sha Tin, 5-7, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.96, gd/fm.
1–&LUCKY BUBBLES (AUS), 126, g, 5, by Sebring (Aus)
1st Dam: Bubble Below (Aus) (SP-Aus), by Hussonet
2nd Dam: Lunaliona, by Caerleon
3rd Dam: Luna Blue (Fr), by Cure the Blues
(A$90,000 Ylg '13 INGMEL). O-Lucky Syndicate; B-Gilgai Farm (Vic); T-Francis Lui; J-Hugh Bowman; HK$7,980,000. Lifetime Record: 19-8-6-1, HK$27,857,010. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mr Stunning (Aus), 126, g, 4, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–With Fervour, by Dayjur. (A$110,000 Wlg '13 INGGSW; NZ$250,000 Ylg '14 NZBPRE). O-Maurice Koo; B-Makybe Racing & Breeding (Vic); T-John Size; HK$3,080,000.
3–Not Listenin'tome (Aus), 126, g, 6, Dylan Thomas (Ire)–Flame of Sydney (Aus), by Encosta de Lago (Aus). (A$270,000 Ylg '12 INGEAS). O-Matthew Wong; B-M A Pitt & M Read (NSW); T-John Moore; HK$1,400,000.
Margins: NK, NK, HF. Odds: 13-5, Evens, 14-1.
Also Ran: Thewizardofoz (Aus), Peniaphobia (Ire), Amazing Kids (NZ), Dashing Fellow (Aus), Sun Jewellery (Aus), Strathmore (Aus), Blizzard (Aus). Scratched: Aerovelocity (NZ), Dundonnell.
Click for the HKJC.com chart, sectional timing and PPs. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.