Hong Kong is set to be represented at Royal Ascot this year, with trainer Francis Lui eyeing an overseas campaign with his stable star Lucky Bubbles.
 
Lucky Bubbles, who will defend his title in Sunday’s (29 April) G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin, has been entered for the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes. The six-furlong contest headlines the final day of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting in June.
 
“Royal Ascot is one of the most prestigious race meetings in the world and it will be a great honour for us to participate,” Lui said at Sha Tin on Wednesday morning (25 April). “As we have a suitable horse to be entered for the meeting, I decided to have an entry and would say that Lucky Bubbles will have a great chance to go. 
 
“The horse is well-prepared for Sunday’s Chairman’s Sprint Prize, and I believe he will run a good race on the day. After that we will be targeting Ascot. Lucky Bubbles is the right type of horse to travel, and the 1200m distance at Ascot will suit him.”
 
Hong Kong has had six runners in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, with Cape Of Good Hope’s victory at York in 2005 the only win. Most recently, the Richard Gibson-trained Gold-Fun finished a close second to Twilight Son in 2016.
 
Jockey Brett Prebble will be reunited with Lucky Bubbles in Sunday’s HK$16m feature, when the galloper tackles eight rivals. These include the John Size-trained quintet of Amazing Kids, Beat The Clock, Ivictory, Mr Stunning and Thewizardofoz, as well as Godolphin-owned duo Fine Needle and Blue Point. 
 
Blue Point is another likely to target the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, having finished third to Harry Angel in the G1 Commonwealth Cup over the course and distance at Royal Ascot last year.
 

Lucky Bubbles and Hugh Bowman winning the 2017 Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin, picture Liesl King