Run in charged atmosphere after the earlier incident with Rapper Dragon, the Chairmans Sprint proved vindication for trainer Francis Lui and owner Jenny Wan, with their charge Lucky Bubbles able to score his elusive G1 win. They’d decided to replace Brett Prebble who had been with Lucky Bubbles for every career start, with visiting jockey Hugh Bowman. Bowman gave the son of Sebring a gem of a ride from gate three, with the only nervous moment being when the horses straightened and he momentarily appeared blocked for a run.

Settling one back on the rail after jumping nicely, Lucky Bubbles travelled well throughout, having cover from Notlistenin’tome as they sat behind leaders Peniaphobia and Dashing Fellow. Short priced favourite, the John Size trained Mr Stunning settled towards the rear, and would need all his dash to catch the leaders. Upon straightening Neil Callan asked Peniaphobia to kick, but there wasn’t a lot left in the tank.

This was the nervous moment for Bowman, as he had to wait momentarily for his run, in the mean time Joao Moreira had angled Mr Stunning out into the clear in the middle of the track. Lucky Bubbles surged through the gap when it appeared, under the urging of Bowman, meanwhile Mr Stunning raced a little ungenerously in the middle of the track.

“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.”

“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, “but 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.”

This was the first G1 win for trainer Francis Lui and he remembered Prebble in his post race interview. “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.”

Lui plans to give Lucky Bubbles a break and prepare him for the December International Sprint. “He’s a lightly framed horse and I worry that he might not be the type who would handle travelling very well,” the trainer said. “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 G2 races before the big international race in December, the Hong Kong Sprint.”

Mr Stunning raced well and looks every inch a G1 winner in the future. “It was a fantastic run,” said Joao Moreira  “He was shying away from Not Listenin’tome and that cost him the win, but overall the race was beautiful looking to the future.”

Thewizardofoz finished hard for Chad Schofield coming in 4th, in a promising run. However he might be a horse who needs 1400m, not an ideal trip, as there are not many chances at the top level available here in Hong Kong.