As we step into May, the 2024/25 season soon is nearing its end. We speak to Racing Programme Presenter Kitty Yau Ka-ying to share her insights on the season’s final Group 1 race and the last leg of the Triple Crown – the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m), covered by World Pool. She also looks ahead with predictions on the jockeys and trainers vying for the Champion Award titles at season’s end. 

The Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup takes place on Sunday, 25 May, and will bring another high point to Hong Kong’s racing scene. With a total prize of HK$13 million, this prestigious World Pool race is one of the three 2400m races of the season. Last year, the globe-trotting overseas star Rebel’s Romance (桀驁之戀) won with an outstanding performance, and this year has once again attracted a roster of some of the world’s top middle- and long-distance gallopers to come to Hong Kong to compete in this prestigious race. Caption: Overseas horse Rebel’s Romance took the 2024 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup under jockey William Buick  

When it comes to local contenders, Voyage Bubble (遨遊氣泡) easily defeated opponents in the Triple Crown’s Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) this year. Racing fans will be watching with bated breath on whether he will be able to successfully take the final leg and claim the title. To Yau, “Voyage Bubble has shown exceptional fighting spirit this season,” she says. “If the pace during the Champions & Chater Cup is slower and requires less stamina from Voyage Bubble, then he absolutely has the chance to win the final leg!”  

Yau was particularly impressed by this horse’s outstanding performance so far. “Voyage Bubble has won multiple major races under jockey James McDonald this season,” she says. “Although he didn’t have a clear path initially during the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, McDonald handled it calmly, ultimately driving him to victory by more than three lengths. His winning posture gave the impression of such improvement, it certainly inspires confidence as McDonald continues to ride him. 

Other local stars expected to compete in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup include Five G Patch (錶之五知) and La City Blanche (當年情). Reflecting on this challenging long-distance race, “when looking back, River Verdon (翠河) was the only horse in Hong Kong’s history to sweep all three legs of the Triple Crown in a single season,” Yau says. 

“It was no easy feat for the champion horse to win all three races (measuring 1600m, 2000m and 2200m at the time), but achieving the Triple Crown today is even more challenging, what with numerous elite horses to face from middle to long distances. Any horse daring to take on this challenge deserves applause.” Caption: The Yiu Poon-fai trained Voyage Bubble has won the first two legs of the Triple Crown after clinching the Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup. If he can win the last leg, the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, he will join River Verdon in the ranks of Triple Crown legends 

Looking further ahead, who will be the victors taking home the Champion Awards at the end of the season? In terms of jockeys, Yau says: “Although Zac Purton was sidelined for over a month due to a mid-season injury, his number of wins still leads by a wide margin, making him a strong contender to defend his Champion Jockey title.” Caption: Zac Purton has performed exceptionally well this season and is highly likely to claim the Champion Jockey title for the eighth time  

In terms of trainers, Yau is looking favourably at John Size, David Hayes and Pierre Ng Pang-chi. John Size’s stable has secured many wins won by quality new horses, showing continuous improvement throughout the season, such as with Juneau Pride (至尊高超), Brilliant Express (神馳), Sky Jewellery (首飾天空) and more, who are expected to secure more wins for Size. Caption: The legendary trainer John Size leads the number of wins this season (as of 15 May 2025) 

Yau says: “I believe one key factor in winning the Champion Trainer title is the progress of new horses in the stable. David Hayes also has many promising new horses, while Pierre Ng’s stable, which had a strong finish last season, currently has many horses in favourable ratings. Let’s see how these three trainers perform by the end of the season. 

Racing Calendar  

In late May, all eyes are undoubtedly on the headlining World Pool-covered Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup. Other World Pool races include Lockinge Stakes Day on 17 May, the Irish 2000 Guineas Day on 24 May and more, which have been featured in the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities' (IFHA) Top 100 Group 1 races over the past two years. Click here to learn more about World Pool.