With Golden Sixty sidelined as he recovers from a recent setback, James McDonald is hoping Voyage Bubble can capitalise on the champion’s absence in Sunday’s Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m).

McDonald made a big impression in his recent short-term contract, notching 15 wins from just 96 rides, and the superstar Kiwi is eyeing more Group One silverware when he continues his union with last year’s Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero.

“Voyage Bubble is a super horse and his run in the Hong Kong Mile was phenomenal,” McDonald said. “He gave me a great feel that day and I’m rapt to be on him in this race.

“It’s a smallish field compared to what he faced on international day, but he’s all quality. He’s third up and should be near his peak now. I thought he had a little bit of improvement to come from the international mile race, so it all bodes well here.”

While Voyage Bubble was no match for the imperious Golden Sixty at the international meeting, the five-year-old kept on well to edge clear of the chasing pack and finish a length and a quarter ahead of third-placed Namur.

He jumps from barrier three this weekend as he chases his maiden elite-level success. With the front-running California Spangle drawn on his inside in gate two, McDonald is hoping for a straightforward passage through the contest.

“He’s a pretty self-explanatory sort of horse. He begins well and hopefully he’ll be in a good position ready to strike,” McDonald said. “He’s just a lovely horse and I think it’s a perfect race for him.”

Joining California Spangle among Voyage Bubble’s chief dangers on Sunday is Beauty Eternal, whose trainer John Size is eyeing a record-extending eighth Stewards’ Cup success.

Russian Emperor also lines up, making his first appearance since finishing eighth in November’s Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) and subsequently suffering the fetlock injury that ruled him out of the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m).

Provided all goes swimmingly for Russian Emperor this weekend, Douglas Whyte has confirmed the three-time Group One winner will jet off to Qatar next month to defend his H.H. The Amir Trophy (2,400m) crown.

While the mile trip will undoubtedly be too sharp for Hong Kong’s champion stayer this weekend, McDonald is hoping it’s not out of reach for Howdeepisyourlove as the four-year-old plots a path towards February 4’s Classic Mile.

Beauty Eternal primed for Stewards’ Cup: ‘He just needs the right circumstances’

Lining up in this weekend’s Class Two Tin Wan Shan Handicap, Howdeepisyourlove will step up to 1,400m for the first time this season after claiming place money twice over the Happy Valley 1,200m.

“He looks like a high-class racehorse,” McDonald said. “I was lucky enough to trial him before I left and he gave me a super feel. Both of his runs have been at Happy Valley this season, so I think Sha Tin will really suit him.

“He was a little bit unlucky in one of his two runs at Sha Tin and he ran into Victor The Winner over six furlongs at his other start. His form reads really well, 1,400m is right up his alley and I hope I will be [back for the Classic Mile].”