Pierre Ng will venture to Sha Tin on Sunday (13 October) in search of two objectives with Galaxy Patch – a strong showing in the HK$5.35 million G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) and greater clarity into the immediate pathway of one of Hong Kong’s most talented and versatile horses.
Ng has provisionally earmarked the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) on 8 December as Galaxy Patch’s primary target but those plans could change based on what unfolds this weekend with an option to aim at the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at the flagship meeting.
“At this stage, we’ll say the (LONGINES Hong Kong) Mile but let’s see what happens on Sunday. He seems fresh enough and hopefully he can settle down well in the race and finish off strongly,” Ng said.
“He’s still showing me a little bit of greeness. I think he can give more. Of course, he can stay in trip, he might go a little bit further next year.”
Galaxy Patch was a revelation for Ng last season, winning four races at 1200m, before stretching to 2000m in the BMW Hong Kong Derby, finishing a narrow second to Massive Sovereign, before closing an unconventional campaign with victories in the G3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap (1600m) and G3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m).
A remarkable 12-start campaign also featured a G1 second placing in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) behind California Spangle as the Wandjina gelding surged from 63 in the handicap to a rating of 119.
“It was only his first season in Hong Kong last year, so I hope he can improve a little bit more and be a very good horse. He’s had a bit of time off and we put him into four trials to get him fit and he seems a little bit more mature this season,” Ng said.
“I’m looking for a very good warm-up run. He seems settled enough, fit enough but he’s not at his best yet because last season we had so many runs from him.”
Galaxy Patch faces nine rivals on Sunday (13 October), headed by Group 1 winners Voyage Bubble (135lb) and Beauty Eternal (131lb) as well as Beauty Joy (129lb), Red Lion (126lb), Straight Arron (125lb), Happy Together (120lb), Chancheng Glory (115lb), La City Blanche (115lb) and The Golden Scenery (115lb).
To be ridden by Vincent Ho, Galaxy Patch will start from barrier two.
If Ng decides to push towards the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, he is destined to clash repeatedly with 2024 G1 Stewards’ Cup winner and 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby victor Voyage Bubble, who is also likely to follow Sunday’s outing with appearance in the G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) on 17 November.
Voyage Bubble’s trainer Ricky Yiu is happy with the Deep Field gelding who resumes in search of a seventh win at his 20th start.
“He (Voyage Bubble) is going really well. He’s had two trials in Conghua and he’s a happy horse. He’ll run well. Although he’s top weight, it’s not a particularly strong field. He’ll still have a bit in the tank,” Yiu said.
“I’ll concentrate on the mile races for him this season. Although he won the Derby over 2000m, he’s better over a mile.”
Stayer Straight Arron will make his stable debut for Yiu in the Sha Tin Trophy.
“I’m happy with his preparation, but he’s a horse I need to see whether he’s still capable of winning races. He’s had a change of environment and he’s a bit more fresh, so hopefully he enjoys that,” Yiu said.
Brenton Avdulla takes the ride on Straight Arron, a four-time winner in Hong Kong for Caspar Fownes before his transfer to Yiu.
Sunday’s (13 October) Hong Kong, China’s Paris 2024 Olympic Team Celebration Raceday starts with the Class 4 (Restricted) Swimming Handicap (1200m) at 12.35pm.
By Leo Schlink
