Trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai rates Voyage Bubble “doubtful” to defend his crown in the Group One Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) at Sha Tin on May 24.

Yiu was keen to give the six-time Group One winner one more run this season, but the capped elbow he sustained in the lead-up to last month’s Group One Champions Mile has needed further treatment.

“He went up to Conghua [on Wednesday morning] and they opened up the capped elbow, but doubtful to run him,” Yiu said.

“We’ll see in a week’s time, we’ll have a better picture. He’s perfect, it’s just managing the capped elbow, that’s all.”

The capped elbow, which is a fluid-filled swelling at the point of the elbow, was discovered on Voyage Bubble’s left front leg during routine veterinary inspections during Champions Day week.

Yiu’s other Champions Mile runner Sunlight Power had the same condition, but both were passed fit later that week to run in the HK$24 million feature, which was won by My Wish.

Voyage Bubble ran a solid fifth after tramping wide without cover for the entire trip from gate 12, and trackwork records show he has done nothing since.

It has been a roller coaster campaign for last year’s Triple Crown hero, who overcame barrier 12 to win December’s Group One Hong Kong Mile but has mixed his form in other runs.

He finished behind champion galloper Romantic Warrior in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m) and Group One Gold Cup (2,000m), with his distant fifth in the latter probably his worst performance in Hong Kong.

Yiu was bewildered by the defeat but opted to push on, with Voyage Bubble running a solid third to Lucky Sweynesse in the Group Two Chairman’s Trophy (1,600m) at his following start.

Voyage Bubble was the first galloper in 31 years to claim Hong Kong’s Triple Crown and Romantic Warrior is on track to achieve the same feat when he tackles the final leg, the Champions & Chater Cup.

Yiu will be hoping for a more positive outcome at Sha Tin on Saturday when the veteran handler unleashes an eight-strong team, highlighted by last-start winners Blazing Wukong and Flashing Fighter.

Blazing Wukong relished the addition of blinkers last start to record a barnstorming 1,600m victory and he tackles the same course and distance in the Class Three Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Handicap.

“He’s still in good form – same jockey, same trip and he’s a horse on his way up. Hopefully he’ll move up to Class Two,” Yiu said.

A three-time winner from 11 starts, Blazing Wukong rises 6lb on his last start to carry 132lb on Saturday and will again be ridden by Andrea Atzeni.

Flashing Fighter will also bid for consecutive wins when he tackles the Class Four Hong Kong Riding For The Disabled Association Cup (1,200m) after a game triumph on debut.

The son of Written Tycoon tracked the speed and kept on strongly to hold off Spicy Standard by a short head. He rises 7lb to carry 124lb after Nichola Yuen Hang-yiu’s 10lb claim.

Yiu’s apprentice will also be aboard the stable’s progressive sprinter Chill Buddy in Saturday’s Class Three Lei Yue Mun Park Handicap (1,200m).

The Australian import broke through for his first local victory in February and was given two months between runs when fourth to My Mars in his latest start.

“It was a good run last time. He’s improving, that horse,” Yiu said.

Chill Buddy jumps from barrier three in a competitive Class Three featuring the likes of Gold Patch, who bids for a third consecutive victory, and fellow last-start winner Jubilant Winner.

Ever Wealth, Rapid Phantom, The Concentration, Victor Supreme and Fiery Steed are Yiu’s other Sha Tin runners.

In other news, Atzeni was one of three jockeys to cop careless riding suspensions at Wednesday night’s all-weather fixture at Sha Tin.

The Sardinian was banned for two meetings for causing interference on Good Chap in race seven. Lyle Hewitson and Richard Kingscote were each banned for one meeting for causing interference on Bull Attitude in race six and Loch Tay in race eight respectively.

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