Lucky Bubbles scores long-awaited group one victory
IT had been a long road to group one glory for Lucky Bubbles, but the hoodoo was broken on Sunday night in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin.
The Francis Lui-trained runner loomed as a potential superstar last season, but a run of placings gave punters reason to doubt. It finished second in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint, Jockey Club Sprint and Centenary Sprint Cup, but that’s all history now.
“It has been a tough year,” Lui said. “He’s tried so hard but he’s been a little bit unlucky, he struck trouble in a couple of his runs and so he should have won one or two more.”
Brett Prebble, who won the Champions Mile aboard Contentment, has ridden Lucky Bubbles in trackwork 175 times this season alone, but was replaced by fellow Australian Hugh Bowman for the ride.
Lui stated that Prebble didn’t necessarily lose the ride, but a change in style was needed.
“I’ve said all along I don’t think Brett did anything wrong, and I must thank him – he has done so much work with his horse,” Lui said.
“He has looked after the horse and has treated him so well. However, Hugh has a different riding style and I think the horse just needed a little bit of a change. He had a good draw too, which helped today.”
@HugeBowman returns on Lucky Bubbles after the popular sprinter’s breakthrough G1 win pic.twitter.com/rUvapQr1OV
— Michael Cox (@KemblaCoxy) May 7, 2017
Lucky Bubbles started the second favourite at $3.60 with Sportsbet.com.au and after settling just behind the pace, Bowman was able to find clear running room before sprinting late.
“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 said. “The horse was able to travel comfortably within himself in that position because the pace was not frantic.”
Lucky Bubbles got clear with 250m to go as race-favourite Mr Stunning was held up in traffic in behind the wall of leaders. Bowman said he was slightly concerned in the straight, but the run eventually came.
“I was a little concerned about where I’d go at the top of the straight because there wasn’t a clear passage,” Bowman said.
“I didn’t have many options other than to wait a while. With a little bit of patience, a run presented itself and we all know the tenacity and toughness this horse has.
“He proved it today and he made luck for himself.”
It was Francis Lui’s first group one win and he now plans to give Lucky Bubbles a well-deserved break instead of heading to Japan.
“I still can’t believe it, this is so exciting,” Lui said. “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!
“He’s a lightly framed horse and I worry that he might not be the type who would handle travelling very well. I had thought the Sprinters’ Stakes at Nakayama could be a good race, but instead I think we will target the local races, the same as this season.
“He will go to the two group one races before the big international race in December, the Hong Kong Sprint.”
Even money favourite Mr Stunning lost no admirers after getting held up and sprinting late. Jockey Joao Moreira is excited about its future at the top level.
“It was a fantastic run,” Moreira said. “He was shying away from Not Listenin’tome and that cost him the win, but overall the race was beautiful looking to the future.”
Former Australian sprinter Not Listenin’tome finished third with Thewizardofoz running into fourth.