Pierre Ng hopes the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (17 November) will deliver further evidence of Galaxy Patch’s status as a leading contender for next month’s HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m).
To face Group 1 winners Voyage Bubble (128lb) and Beauty Eternal (128lb) for the second time this season, along with Straight Arron (123lb), Beauty Joy (123lb), Happy Together (123lb), Red Lion (123lb), Taj Dragon (123lb) and Chancheng Glory (123lb), Galaxy Patch (123lb) will start from barrier five under Vincent Ho.
Ng, who leads the Hong Kong trainers’ championship with 18 wins from Caspar Fownes (16), Mark Newnham (14) and David Hayes (14), believes Galaxy Patch has improved since the gelding comfortably downed Voyage Bubble, Chancheng Glory, Straight Arron, Beauty Joy, Beauty Eternal and Red Lion in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) on 13 October.
“Galaxy Patch is doing really well, he has improved from his last run. Hopefully the rain hasn’t affected the track that much,” Ng said. “This is another test for him against those two Group 1 horses (Voyage Bubble and Beauty Eternal) – we’re really looking forward to it as we build up towards the international race.”
Ng will also saddle Taj Dragon (123lb), who will jump from barrier three for Andrea Atzeni.