Pierre Ng believes Galaxy Patch has what it takes to win at Group 1 level and the trainer is remaining hopeful of celebrating elite level success at Sha Tin on Sunday, 27 April when his quality galloper lines up in the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m).

Initially in pole position to fill the void vacated by Golden Sixty as Hong Kong’s premier miler, Galaxy Patch lost that mantle to Voyage Bubble, who has since raised his game with victories in both of Sha Tin’s Group 1 mile races this season to emerge as the division’s clear standout.

Across 18 starts in Hong Kong, Galaxy Patch has displayed brilliant potential, while also suffering agonising defeats at the top-level, however, his impressive record is headlined by seven wins and earnings of HK$29.60 million, and Ng isn’t expecting to diverge from the gelding’s customary late-closing tactics in a bid to capture an elusive first Group 1 when champion jockey Zac Purton retains the ride this weekend.

“He just didn’t finish off when we tried to race him forward like we did in the Gold Cup. He has to be left alone until the home straight, then find a way out and hopefully luck is going our way,” Ng said. “His racing pattern needs to be smooth and then he needs to be lucky enough. He always gives us very good sectionals at the end of races and he was unlucky last time.”

Galaxy Patch kicked off his 2024/25 campaign with a HK$5.35 million G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) score last October before five successive defeats. The five-year-old is a dual Group 3 winner and was second in the 2024 HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m), 2024 HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) and 2025 HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m).

The bay finished a close second in the HK$5.35 million G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) as favourite behind 33/1 winner Straight Arron last month. He was eighth in February’s HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) when racing more prominently in the early stages of the contest.

“He trialled well on Thursday (17 April). We put the cheek pieces and a tongue tie on him – he seemed to relax well. He was more focused with the gear on and we’re ready for the Group 1. I know it’s going to be tough but I hope he can manage to win a Group 1 race,” Ng said.

The son of former trainer Peter Ng, Pierre entered The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s system in 2007, firstly as a work rider for his father’s stable, before climbing to the position of assistant trainer for Paul O’Sullivan, John Size and Francis Lui.

“I did it the tough way. I worked my way up, so it’s very hard when your father is a trainer and he retires and you have to pick everything up again – all of the connections, owners. In a way it was hard but it’s also been challenging and rewarding,” Ng said.

“It was good to learn. After my dad’s stable there was more to learn with different trainers. It’s good to keep learning and always find different methods. I am still trying to figure it out – that’s why I went to Ireland recently to get more inspiration.”

The winner of 146 races in Hong Kong, Ng – a rising star of world racing – travelled to Great Britain to purchases horses and tour Aidan O’Brien’s stable in Ireland. His father Peter trained for over 30 years and handled former Hong Kong Horse of the Year recipients Mystic (1984/85) and Quicken Away (1988/89 & 1989/90).