Larneuk Stud in Victoria is home to value sire Wandjina, whose talented son Galaxy Patch has been acclaimed as the next rising superstar in Hong Kong racing following his dominant return in the Group II Sha Tin Trophy (1600m) on Sunday.
Trained by Pierre Ng and ridden by Vincent Ho, Galaxy Patch was second in the Hong Kong Derby back in March and then finished his season with a pair of Group wins in June.
Tuned up with a series of recent trials, Galaxy Patch was fit and ready to fire first up over a mile and powered clear of Group I winner Voyage Bubble to win by a length and a half.
“He (Galaxy Patch) has got great talent and he will be the next future star, I would say,” said Vincent Ho, who partnered Champion Miler Golden Sixty to 26 wins from 31 starts.
“At the moment, he’s only 70% fit – based on his form last-season, he would have smashed them easier today, but it was enough for him to win today by just stretching out by himself.”
Settling in second last place in the nine-horse field led by Beauty Eternal (131lb), Galaxy Patch loomed on the home turn before Ho angled into the middle of the track, clocking 22.11s for the final 400m without fully extending.
The LONGINES G1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) in December is the target race Pierre Ng hopes to claim this season with Galaxy Patch and Ho believes Galaxy Patch has the attributes needed to emulate Golden Sixty.
“He (Galaxy Patch) is a horse that (will) probably replace Golden Sixty at the mile. He’s still maturing, of course. Once he relaxed, he can put the race to sleep and he also had a great turn of foot. It’s early-season, the first race for him, and the preparation is (going) very well,” Ho added.
Ng will aim Galaxy Patch at the G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) on 17 November as a stepping stone to the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile on 8 December.
“He’s the right horse that every trainer wants to train,” Ng said. “We’re very pleased. With four trials, we just wanted him to be settled and he was today. Of course he’s not 100 per cent fit, but we just tried to get him fit enough for today and he did very well.
“With his stride length, he definitely looks improved from last season. Racing-wise, he’s more professional, more relaxed and if he can be more relaxed in the parade ring, I’ll be a bit happier.
“Definitely he’s got the potential – it’s how we manage to get him up there. We’ll just do it by each race and hopefully he can go further and better.”
Galaxy Patch was a $50,000 Magic Millions Adelaide purchase for Will Clarken/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/David Jolly from the Summerset Park Stud and won his debut in Adelaide before his sale to Hong Kong. He now has the overall record of nine wins from 15 starts.
Bred and sold by Summerset Park, Galaxy Patch is a half-brother to stakes-placed Comearoundsundown and Creativity being the best of eight winners from unraced More Than Ready (USA) mare Voltara, who died last year.
Galaxy Patch is one of seven stakes-winners for Wandjina, who stands at Larneuk Stud this spring at a fee of $6,600.
