Zac Purton is wary of the task Voyage Bubble faces against champion galloper Romantic Warrior when he chases a fourth Group One Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The six-time Hong Kong champion jockey will reunite with Voyage Bubble for the first time since 2022 in his bid to add to his previous victories in the HK$13 million feature on Military Attack (2013), Time Warp (2018) and Exultant (2019).

Fresh from his first Group One triumph in the Stewards’ Cup (1,600m) last start, Voyage Bubble faces his first clash with Romantic Warrior, who is chasing a sixth victory at the elite level.

Adding further intrigue to the much-anticipated feature are wide draws for the two likely favourites, with Romantic Warrior copping the outside gate in the field of 11 and Voyage Bubble in seven.

“It’s good to be back on him,” Purton said of Voyage Bubble. “He’s lightly raced and hasn’t had a taxing season, having started later than the others.

“It’s obviously a tough task going against our best mile-and-a-quarter horse in Romantic Warrior, and Straight Arron.

“It’s a strong race and [Voyage Bubble] has drawn a bit awkwardly, as has [Romantic Warrior]. We will need a bit of luck, but he should run well.”

Purton is adamant Voyage Bubble will run a strong 2,000m in his first test at the trip since his Hong Kong Derby triumph last year.

“He’s a track and distance winner, which always helps,” Purton said. “It’s not easy to win a Derby. I don’t see it as a problem.”

Trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai is also wary of Romantic Warrior but said Voyage Bubble has thrived since the Stewards’ Cup last month.

“He’s doing well – really, really well,” Yiu said. “Romantic Warrior is the main worry, but I believe my horse will run another big race.

“We’ll be in the first half [of the field], but whether we’ll be forward or stay in midfield depends on how strong the pace is and what Zac chooses to do.

“He knows his opponent because he’s ridden Romantic Warrior before, so he’ll work it out. It will be a very interesting race to watch, that’s for sure.”

Returning from a one-meeting suspension, Purton can add to his premiership-leading haul of 67 wins with a strong book of rides on Sunday’s 10-race card.

He is booked to ride another four last-start winners – Atullibigeal, Beato, Gorgeous Win and Green N White.

Atullibigeal backs up in the Class Two Citi Private Bank Handicap (1,600m) after an impressive win in last Sunday’s Class Two TVB Cup (1,400m) for jockey Brenton Avdulla.

“That was a good win,” Purton said. “He had all the favours from a good gate but had to push through and won nicely. Hopefully he can do it again.”

Purton is confident Gorgeous Win, a winner at two of his four starts, can continue his brilliant start to his career in the Class Three Citi Mortgage Services Handicap (1,200m).

“He’s had a really good season and Danny [Shum Chap-shing] has done a really good job with him,” Purton said. “He’s a highly strung horse. Spacing his runs has helped him.”