Hong Kong Stakes-Winner for Wandjina

Tara Madgwick - Monday June 3

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)

Galaxy Patch sneaks through on the inside to win - image HKJC

Trained by Pierre Ng and ridden by Vincent Ho, Galaxy Patch was second in the Hong Kong Derby back in March and most recently was fifth in the Group I Champions Mile won by Beauty Eternal.

Galaxy Patch charged through on the inside to take a half head win, his sixth from 12 starts.

“He deserves this win, it was just a bit risky because when I went inside Lyle (Hewitson on Chancheng Glory) sort of went out and then when I came through, he moved in a bit – I lost my momentum a little bit,” Vincent Ho said.

Second in the HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) this season, Galaxy Patch is now a five-time winner in Hong Kong with earnings of HK$19.78 million across his 11 starts in the jurisdiction.

“I always had faith in Galaxy Patch. He’s shown at Group 1 level, just behind Golden Sixty, and he didn’t really like the wet track as well,” Ho said, referencing the horse’s last start fifth placing.

Pierre Ng believes there is more to come for Galaxy Patch.

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 “I just never know how good he will be, but definitely a top one,” he said.

“The horse has got a very big heart and he managed to overcome that (small gap), so it’s quite a promising win. It’s a special horse who does that and the rider – of course, Vincent has the experience to do that as well.”

Galaxy Patch was a $50,000 MM Adelaide purchase.

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.

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.

Wandjina stands at Larneuk Stud.

Galaxy Patch is the sixth stakes-winner for Wandjina, who will stand at Larneuk Stud this spring at a fee of $6,600.

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Race Result - The Lion Rock Trophy Gr3 1600m

Sha Tin Track: Firm Time: 1:33.93
1
Galaxy Patch
- 4g Wandjina (AUS) x Voltara (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: P C Ng Rdr: C Y Ho 55.5
2
0.1
Chancheng Glory
- 4g Mor Spirit (USA) x Solid Scam (USA) (Consolidator (USA))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: Lyle Hewitson 52.5
3
2.8
Beauty Joy
- 7g Sebring (AUS) x Impressive Jeuney (AUS) (Jeune (GB))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: B Avdulla 61
Sebring
4
2.8
Taj Dragon
- 5g Mehmas (IRE) x Next Trial (IRE) (Hard Spun (USA))
Tnr: P C Ng Rdr: A Atzeni 57.5
5
3
Atullibigeal
- 5g Street Boss (USA) x Kellys Ocean Jewel (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: D J Hall Rdr: A Badel 52
6
4
The Golden Scenery
- 6g Deep Field (AUS) x Saga's Gift (AUS) (Real Saga (AUS))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: Y L Chung 52
7
13.8
Encountered
- 5g Churchill (IRE) x Enrol (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: K L Man Rdr: K Teetan 57.5
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