The emergence of genuine top-line horses is always exciting for Hong Kong racing and last Sunday – in the space of two races – GALAXY PATCH and MUGEN confirmed that Pierre Ng has two bright prospects on his hands.
GALAXY PATCH was very impressive in winning the G3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m) under Vincent Ho, sweeping from second last on the turn and clocking the fastest final 400m of the day in 21.69s under 129lb after the track had been affected by rain.
In only his first season in Hong Kong, GALAXY PATCH has posted six wins – including two at Group 3 level – and three seconds from just 12 starts, while rising from a rating of 63 to 119, the highest of any four-year-old in Hong Kong.
Augmenting GALAXY PATCH’s rich promise and quality is his versatility. He has not only won at 1200m, 1600m and 1800m, but he also finished a narrow second in the BMW Hong Kong Derby at 2000m to MASSIVE SOVEREIGN and he was runner-up to CALIFORNIA SPANGLE in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400m.
He is certainly an outstanding prospect for next season and beyond and is part of a high-quality group of four-year-olds along with INVINCIBLE SAGE, HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE, HELIOS EXPRESS, MASSIVE SOVEREIGN, CHANCHENG GLORY and YOUNG CHAMPION.
There are also some talented three-year-olds with excellent potential including KA YING RISING, WUNDERBAR, THE WINNABE and last Sunday’s excellent winners JAMES TAK and RUBYLOT.
MUGEN crowned a fine campaign with his win for Pierre and Karis Teetan in the G3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m), wearing down CALIFORNIA SPANGLE in the last few strides to make it four wins and four minor placings from nine starts this season.
He sprinted strongly from the rear of the field and, with only 115lb, was able to overhaul CALIFORNIA SPANGLE, who ran well with the top-weight of 135lb on ground that had softened with significant pre-race rain.
MUGEN’s latest performance saw him rise to 110 in the handicap and, having finished third at the highest level in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) in April, he is poised to impact in next season’s major sprints.
CALIFORNIA SPANGLE was tremendous in defeat and showed with his determination and class why he is one of the best sprinters in the world and I look forward to his return in 2024/25.
Pierre’s Group 3 double, coupled with GREENWICH’s Class 4 victory, could not have come at a better time for the young trainer as his battle with Francis Lui for the Hong Kong trainers’ championship intensifies.
Pierre’s three-timer gave him a 65-63 lead in a fascinating tussle and with only six meetings left this season, he has edged back in front and, like Francis, Pierre is certain to devote all of his resources to winning the title for the first time.
At Happy Valley tonight, the feature race is the Class 2 Tan Shan River Handicap (1200m) and is carded as Race 7 at 9.45pm for prizemoney of HK$2,840,000.
Before the scratching of COLOURFUL EMPEROR, we had eight four-year-olds in the field, with five PP and three PPG horses, which shows our incentives to entice owners to bring good horses to Hong Kong is bearing fruit.
The speed will be good. SUPERB CAPITALIST has drawn the rails and should have enough early speed to hold the lead, but HARMONY N BLESSED is also a quick beginner who likes to lead and will go forward to contest the lead from gate six. COPARTNER PRANCE will be on the speed and should find the rail behind the leader and SING DRAGON will also be prominent from his outside gate.
COPARTNER PRANCE is chasing six wins on end here. He scored four times in a row over this course and distance before stalking the speed at Sha Tin on 8 June, beating DUKE WAI in a battle to the line in the last 150m when stepping up in class. COPARTNER PRANCE continues to rise to every challenge and, drawn gate two, he should get a perfect run under Zac Purton and is a win and place chance.
SUPERB CAPITALIST is in outstanding form and is chasing a winning hat trick here. Last start, he had to work hard early to muster speed and drive through to contest the lead. SUPERB CAPITALIST kicked strongly in the straight to beat GUMMY GUMMY and HARMONY N BLESSED. SUPERB CAPITALIST has been in Conghua since his last run and won a trial there recently. If he jumps well and leads again for Matthew Chadwick, he is a place chance.
GUMMY GUMMY has finished in the top four at his past 12 starts. At his last run at this course and distance, he chased hard to finish second to SUPERB CAPITALIST on 22 May and then ran well for fourth behind COPARTNER PRANCE at Sha Tin on 8 June. Jerry Chau comes off a winning treble on Sunday and GUMMY GUMMY is a place chance again.
COPARTNER AMBITION, who has won four times at the course and distance this season, resumes after a layoff, as does DREAM WINNER who is a capable sprinter. HARMONY N BLESSED and REWARD SMILE are both racing well and will be competitive.
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