New Zealand Bloodstock graduate Voyage Warrior secured his first stakes victory at Sha Tin on Sunday when taking out the Gr.2 Sprint Cup (1200m).

 

The 23/1 shot relished the rain-affected turf and dominated his seven rivals under an inspired Vincent Ho.

 

Voyage Warrior was never headed and sprinted down the straight to finish three-quarters of a length in front of runner-up Hot King Prawn.

 

“It wasn’t the plan to lead but my horse pinged the gate and everyone else was holding, they didn't want to lead, so I just gave him a soft lead and he ran home strongly,” Ho said.

 

“He enjoyed that ground a lot and he was so relaxed in front. Ricky’s horses are doing very well, the young ones too.”

  

Voyage Warrior burst onto the scene last term with three wins from four starts, achieved in blistering fashion, but this term he had mixed his form with one win from five prior to Sunday’s first tilt at Group company.

 

“He’s maturing and that has meant he’s had some ups and downs, he’s had bad patches, but he’s improving and each time he’s gone over 1200m he’s run better,” trainer Ricky Yiu said.

  

Yiu expects to pitch his emerging talent into the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) later this month when he is likely to lock horns again with Hot King Prawn and Aethero.

 

“We’ll keep him over 1200m,” he said. “He’ll be against the same horses in the Group One next time. He’s going to go up a lot in the ratings but it doesn't matter now, he’s in the Group races.”

 

Voyage Warrior was purchased out of JK Farm’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft by his trainer for $280,000.