Hong Kong Derby Runner-Up for Wandjina

Media Release - Sunday March 31

This year's running of Hong Kong's most prestigious race, the Hong Kong Derby, saw a stirring finish between two exceptionally exciting horses - the Irish bred Massive Sovereign and the Australian bred Galaxy Patch.

Galaxy Patch fails narrowly to catch Massive Sovereign (IRE) in the Hong Kong Derby - image Grant Courtney

Along with the winner, Galaxy Patch really put in the big strides late to go oh so close to the prize after getting back from a tricky gate - clocking 22.4 seconds for his final 400m compared to the winner's 22.58 seconds.

Bred by Summerset Stud, the $50,000 graduate of the 2021 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale had just the one start in Australia - on the back of good trial form starting favourite in at Morphettville maiden, finishing off strongly to make a winning debut.

From there he made his way to the Pierre Ng stable and he was off and running straight away there as well - green but too good over 1200m at Sha Tin last October. He was beaten at his next start but from there went from strength to strength winning his next three by wide margins.

Right up in class when contesting the Gr.1 Queen's Jubilee Cup in mid-March, Galaxy Patch really caught the eye with his strong finishing second to the more seasoned California Spangle; a run that saw connections pay up a late entry fee for the Derby.

Larneuk Stud's Wandjina is the sire of Galaxy Patch.

Considered to be one of Hong Kong's most exciting young gallopers, Galaxy Patch is a son of Larneuk Stud's quiet achiever Wandjina - Gr.1 Australian Guineas winning son of the great Snitzel.

A horse who Larneuk's Neville Murdoch thinks is worthy of greater support, and to that end he is really going to push the stallion to breeders this spring.

Advertisement

"He is an underrated stallion who just keeps getting winners and, as Galaxy Patch shows, he is capable of siring a very good horse."

"He is an ideal horse for owner/breeders, and for the VOBIS scheme - he boasts a very good strike rate."

On top of Galaxy Patch, Wandjina has a number of promising young horses coming through such as the Kris Lees trained Infancy who from her first nine starts has won three races including the Listed Fireball Stakes at Randwick in early March.

 And the Nick Ryan trained Wirrpanda who - at just his third start (and his first as a gelding) - impressed charging home to claim his maiden at Geelong during the week.

 Wandjina's pedigree is an interesting one for breeders to take note of; bred on a 6 X 5 cross of the influential matriarch Best In Show via her descendants Redoute's Choice and Try My Best, he is picking up very well on further strains on that family (such as El Gran Senor who appears in Galaxy Patch) as well as on strains of the great mare La Troienne to whom he is line-bred - and who is ancestress of More Than Ready, dam sire of Galaxy Patch and Wirrpanda - as well as of Wandjina's stakes winner Express Pass.


For further information on Victoria's quiet achiever, get in touch with Larneuk Stud via neville@larneuk.com or 0418105706.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Karaka Graduates Honoured at New Zealand Horse of the Year Awards
The champions of New Zealand’s 2024-25 season were crowned during the Horse of the Year Awards in Hamilton on Sunday night, where four Karaka graduates were named the standouts of their respective categories.
HK Star for Wandjina – Galaxy Patch Wins G3 Premier Plate
Progressive Aussie bred gelding Galaxy Patch is a star on the rise in Hong Kong for his sire Wandjina, powering home from what looked an impossible position to win the Group III Premier Plate (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
I Am Invincible Stallion Chasing Black Type in NZ
Tardelli has the looks to match his rich pedigree, and his upcoming preparation will be focussed on adding a top level performance to boost his future stallion prospects.
Hong Kong Stakes-Winner for Wandjina
Progressive Aussie bred gelding Galaxy Patch scored his first stakes win at Sha Tin on Sunday when the four year-old son of Wandjina scored a narrow victory in a thrilling finishing to the Group III Lion Rock Trophy(1600m)
Rising Hong Kong Superstar for Wandjina
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.
Debut Farnan Winner for Pencarrow Stud
Three-year-old filly Passiflora showed promise at the trials and transferred that potential into raceday success when scoring on debut in the NZ Horse Ambulance 970 at Cambridge on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 9
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vale, Ryan Smith
Victorian breeding farm Kulani Park are mourning the loss of partner and family member Ryan Smith.
Another Impressive New Winner St Mark’s Basilica
A colt that holds entries for several upcoming Group races, Piazza San Marco became the 12th winner for Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (FR) when bolting in at Galway overnight.
Cogburn Sire Not This Time on Fire at Keeneland September
If you have been considering sending a mare to Widden Stud’s exciting new shuttle sire Cogburn (USA) or have already booked one in you are going to be pretty interested in what is going on at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale this week where his sire Not This Time is in hot demand.