Ricky Yiu Poon-fai is looking ahead to December’s Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) after a couple of his gallopers produced almighty runs in defeat in Sunday’s Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m).

The veteran trainer was left beaming after Voyage Bubble and Straight Arron kept on well to finish second and fourth, respectively, in the HK$5.35 million feature.

“They both put in very good runs and I think they’re both improving, especially Straight Arron, he definitely has something more in the tank,” Yiu said of the six-year-old, who was making his stable debut after transferring from Caspar Fownes’ yard.

Voyage Bubble started fourth in betting but carried top weight to a gallant second to Galaxy Patch, with Chancheng Glory and Straight Arron close behind in a photo for third.

“Considering he had top weight and was three wide the whole way, he fought back really nicely,” Yiu said. “I thought he would drop into fourth or fifth at one stage, but it was a good effort and he’s a great horse.”

All roads lead to trials day on November 17 for Yiu’s pair, with Voyage Bubble heading for the Group Two Jockey Club Mile and Straight Arron likely to tackle the Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m).

“Voyage Bubble will go to the Jockey Club Mile next and then the Hong Kong Mile,” Yiu said. “Straight Arron will step up [to the Jockey Club Cup] and we’ll see how he runs. We’re pretty optimistic now.”

Antino bound for HKIR

Australian galloper Antino is on track for HKIR after his spectacular victory in Saturday’s Group One Toorak Handicap (1,600m) at Caulfield.

Raced by Hong Kong-based owner Jeetu Ramchadani, Antino broke through for his first Group One triumph when he bolted in by six and a half lengths courtesy of a freakish ride by Blake Shinn.

Shinn took off mid-race to loop the entire field and skip clear on the six-year-old.

Trainer Tony Gollan has resisted the temptation of the Group One Cox Plate (2,040m), won by Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior last year, with the Group One Hong Kong Mile his main aim for Antino.

“We didn’t accept for the Cox Plate during the week and we have always been really keen to get him to Hong Kong. He will get his vaccinations and all those things,” Gollan told Racenet.

“If we went to a Cox Plate it basically rules out Hong Kong, so the plan is to keep on rolling.”

Antino is likely to tackle the Group One Champions Mile at Flemington on November 9 before taking on Hong Kong’s best milers on international day.

Saturday’s meetings at Caulfield and Randwick had implications on Hong Kong-based jockeys planning to ride Down Under next weekend.

Brenton Avdulla’s chances of riding in the Group One The Everest (1,200m) at Randwick were dealt a blow when Switzerland brilliantly won the Group Two Roman Consul Stakes (1,200m).

Avdulla was tentatively booked to ride Storm Boy, but breeding giant Coolmore is contemplating a last-minute switch to instead run Switzerland in its The Everest slot.

“Switzerland has won really well, that was just what we wanted to see,” Coolmore’s Tom Magnier said on Saturday. “We have a bit of thinking to do now.”

Karis Teetan’s Group One Caulfield Cup (2,400m) mount, Coco Sun, was solid in defeat when fifth in the Group One Might And Power Stakes (2,000m) and will back up this Saturday.

Ben Thompson will be sweating on his Caulfield Cup ride, Sayedaty Sadaty, making the final field of 18. The Ciaron Maher-trained stayer is currently 26th in the order of entry, with the field to be declared on Tuesday.

Lam making progress

Hong Kong Jockey Club trainee apprentice Ivy Lam continues to make encouraging progress in her recovery from injuries sustained in a nasty race fall at South Australia’s Gawler racecourse last Monday.

Lam, 23, was airlifted to Royal Adelaide Hospital and placed in an induced coma after falling from Jacobs Gate when he suffered a heart attack mid-race.

Jockey Club executive director of racing Andrew Harding said Lam has made “significant advancements” in her recovery, while it was “still too early to determine if and when she will be transferred back to Hong Kong for part of her rehabilitation”.

Racing South Australia said in an update on Friday: “Ivy Lam’s family have advised us that she continues to make positive progress and has been moved out of the intensive care unit and onto a ward.

“She is responsive and her condition is continuing to improve. Ivy’s family have asked us to thank the staff at the Royal Adelaide Hospital for their outstanding care and the wider community for the many messages of love and support.”

Stoltz heads retirees

There were a couple of notable retirees in Hong Kong this week, with the careers of Stoltz and Romantic Hero coming to an end.

A Group Three winner in last season’s National Day Cup (1,000m), Stoltz was forced into retirement due to a stress fracture to his left fore upper limb.

The Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained sprinter endured an interrupted 2023-24 campaign and was scratched in an unusual manner before this season’s renewal of the National Day Cup.

En route to the starting gates, Stoltz’s rider, Zac Purton, was concerned with his action and returned to the enclosure.

He unsaddled the gelding before a veterinary inspection, which stewards confirmed “did not show any significant findings”.

While Purton’s decision to unsaddle the horse was questioned by some, the champion jockey’s actions were vindicated when the Jockey Club’s additional diagnostic assessment confirmed the galloper had a stress fracture.

Romantic Hero’s fledgling racing career was cut short after he failed to recover from the tendon injury he picked up last season.

The HK$8.4 million Hong Kong International Sale graduate was trained by Danny Shum Chap-shing and failed to fire on his only start in November last year.