Pierre Ng is optimistic seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton can coax the best out of Galaxy Patch when the mercurial talent contests the HK$5.35 million Gr2 Chairman’s Trophy at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Galaxy Patch is a seven-time winner in Hong Kong (Pic – HKJC)
Purton returns to race riding for the first time since injuring his left foot on 9 February and the Australian’s nine rides include the prized mounts of Ka Ying Rising in the HK$5.35 million Gr2 Sprint Cup and Galaxy Patch.
Ng retains telling faith in Galaxy Patch despite the four successive defeats which have followed the Wandjina gelding’s explosive winning return under Vincent Ho over 1600m on 13 October.
Blake Shinn was aboard Galaxy Patch at his past two starts, finishing a distant eighth to Voyage Bubble in the HK$13 million Gr1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup on 23 February.
Pierre Ng has 35 wins for the season (Pic – HKJC)
But Ng is confident Purton has the key to Galaxy Patch after the all-time Hong Kong record-holder for the most wins by a jockey partnered the 124-rater in a 1200m dirt trial at Sha Tin last Friday, 21 March.
“Zac trialled him really well. I’ve never seen the horse so relaxed in the early part of the trial, so I think we’ve found the right person for him. Hopefully, he can win the Group 2 and we can look forward to the Group 1 next month,” Ng said, referring to the HK$24 million Gr1 FWD Champions Mile at Sha Tin on 27 April.
“Galaxy Patch is the fifth-rated top horse in Hong Kong so I’m sure that he’ll manage to perform well on Sunday and he’s still only five years old and he’ll be a lot more professional, more mature later on.
“The Group 1 is in our minds so hopefully not too long to wait.”
Drawn in barrier nine, Galaxy Patch will face 11 opponents on Sunday – Beauty Eternal, Beauty Joy, Chancheng Glory, Ensued, Happy Together, Red Lion, Straight Arron, La City Blanche, Moments In Time, Nimble Nimbus and Sunlight Power.
Cody Mo will thrust Magic Control into battle against Ka Ying Rising in the Sprint Cup, hoping Harry Bentley can help the former Australian sprinter produce his best performance at 1200m in Hong Kong.
The Sioux Nation gelding has excelled over 1000m at Sha Tin with three wins and two seconds from five attempts, but his three 1200m starts have yielded a third and two sixths.
“The horse has been in Conghua and he came back to Hong Kong on Tuesday, 25 March and he is well. After being at Conghua, he is more relaxed but, honestly, I think 1200m is a bit far for him,” Mo said.
“I think 1000m is more suitable but, as this is a Group race with Ka Ying Rising, I hope we can get close to him and get some prizemoney.”
Apart from Ka Ying Rising and Magic Control, Sunday’s sprint feature also contains California Spangle, Helios Express, Lucky With You, Copartner Prance and Gorgeous Win.
Magic Control is a three-time winner over 1000m this season (Pic – HKJC)
Top sprinter Lucky Sweynesse edged closer to a return to racing with a comfortable 1050m trial victory under Matthew Poon at Sha Tin on Thursday.
Clocking 1m 02.01s with his final 400m in 21.80s, the four-time Group 1 winner easily defeated Boombayah by three quarters of a length as trainer Manfred Man contemplates a tilt at the HK$22 million Gr1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on 27 April.
Rated 132 with 16 wins from 24 starts, Lucky Sweynesse has not raced since winning the 2024 Sprint Cup at Sha Tin last April.
Sunday’s 10-race Sha Tin card starts with the Class 4 Severn Handicap at 06h45.
