Pierre Ng hopes returning Zac Purton is the man to spark Galaxy Patch
Pierre Ng Pang-chi is hopeful Zac Purton's return from injury will coincide with the return of Galaxy Patch to the winners' list at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Last victorious in October's Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m), Galaxy Patch will join forces with Purton for the first time in this weekend's Group Two Chairman's Trophy (1,600m).
While Ng has praised Blake Shinn in the past for his ability to relax known closer Galaxy Patch – the Australian rider partnered the five-year-old to second in January's Group One Stewards' Cup (1,600m) – he thinks it could be Purton who can truly get the best out of his stable star.
'Zac trialled him really well. I've never seen the horse so relaxed in the early part of the trial, so I think we've found the right person for him,' said Ng in reference to Galaxy Patch's fast-finishing second in a 1,200m dirt trial last week.
'Hopefully, he can win the Group Two [this weekend] and we can look forward to the Group One next month.
'He's the fifth top-rated horse in Hong Kong so I'm sure that he'll manage to do [well] on Sunday.'
That Group One is the Champions Mile on April 27's Champions Day, where Galaxy Patch is expected to meet leading local miler Voyage Bubble and Australian star Mr Brightside.
While the son of Wandjina would have to find another level to prevail in the Champions Mile, Ng remains confident Galaxy Patch's time will come at the elite level.
'The Group One is in our minds, so hopefully not too long to wait,' he said.
'He's still [only] five years old and he'll be a lot more professional, more mature later on.'
Galaxy Patch could well start favourite this weekend in a race featuring Group One winner Beauty Eternal, who gives the field five pounds, Beauty Joy and the up-and-coming Sunlight Power.
Sunlight Power steps into Group company for the first time after an impressive season and trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai is confident he can make a splash.
Class act! Sunlight Power wears down Voyage Samurai in the Kowloon Tong Club Trophy as @HugeBowman makes it a hat-trick at Sha Tin... 🔥#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/1lNBNqqJqa — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 15, 2025
'He's rated over 100 now, so he's against the big boys. He's a horse who always tries very hard and gives his best. I'd be very happy if he can finish in the first three,' Yiu said.
As for Ng, he will be hoping Galaxy Patch can help him continue his good form as he bids to stay in touch with premiership leader John Size.
After landing winners at three of the past four meetings to move to 35 successes for the campaign, Ng also saddles up Gale Saga, Robot Knight, Aurora Patch and Across Da Universe as he looks to close the 10-win gap to Size.
The returning Purton has nine rides on his first day at the races since he fractured his left big toe in a race fall on February 9, headlined by Ka Ying Rising in the afternoon's other Group Two – the Sprint Cup (1,200m).
Purton also climbs aboard Volcanic Spark, Bottomuptogether, Ka Ying Glory, With A Smile, La Forza, Sunny Da Best and Another World.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Britney Wong doubles up again at Sha Tin as Cheval Valiant leads them a merry dance
Britney Wong Po-ni landed consecutive Sha Tin doubles headlined by Cheval Valiant's all-the-way win in the Class Four Lai On Handicap (1,000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. The 26-year-old smashed out of the gates on the Charm Spirit galloper and never looked back, crossing over to the stands rail from gate nine and setting comfortable fractions on the front end. When the pair were faced by a myriad of challengers in the final 200m, Wong galvanised her willing partner and gamely fended off $57 roughie Straight To Glory and $6.8 second favourite Lahore by a neck. It was the second straight double for Wong and the fourth consecutive winning meeting for the 10lb apprentice, who was teaming up with the horse that provided her with her first Hong Kong win back in September. Britney Wong grabs a double! ✌️ Cheval Valiant was the apprentice's first winner in Hong Kong last year and today she's back aboard @DJWhyteTrainer's galloper successfully at Sha Tin... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 8, 2025 'He was my first win and I know him very well,' said Wong of the Douglas Whyte-trained Cheval Valiant. 'Thank you to Mr Whyte for putting me back on because I had to chase this ride, actually, and I'm happy that everything has gone well today and I have had another win. I'm very happy.' There was a huge sting in the tail post race, however, with Wong copping a three-day ban and HK$15,000 fine for careless riding in the early stages. Earlier, Wong got the card off to the perfect start in combination with Manfred Man Ka-leung for the second consecutive Sha Tin meeting when Ruby Sailing was another gate-to-wire winner in the Class Five Chak On Handicap (1,200m). Ruby Sailing is not for catching! 🔥 Apprentice Britney Wong drives the Starspangledbanner gelding to a first win for Manfred Man at Sha Tin... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 8, 2025 It was a maiden victory at the 20th attempt for the son of Starspangledbanner, who showed tremendous early speed to lead from gate eight and never looked in danger of being caught. Wong got serious at the 400m pole and the pair surged into an unassailable lead, winning by one and a quarter lengths from fast-finishing $2.4 favourite King Oberon. Elsewhere, French ace Antoine Hamelin notched another timely winner thanks to Sky Prophet's upset win at $19.2 in the Class Five Chung On Handicap (1,400m). The Casper Fownes-trained four-year-old was made to work hard to get to the lead from barrier 13, but once there Hamelin controlled the fractions to a tee. Sky Prophet won't quit! 💥 Tough first win for the Caspar Fownes trainee at Sha Tin with @AntoineHamelin as he narrowly denies a rampaging Only U in a thriller... #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 8, 2025 The pair looked vulnerable to Lapras turning in, but after fending off that rival in a protracted duel, they had just enough to scramble home ahead of the desperately unlucky $1.8 favourite Only U, who lashed home and only missed by a head after a torrid passage. 'It's nice to get a winner today – it's hot, but it's less hot when you win,' said Hamelin. 'I think the horse was in good form and didn't deserve to be so long in the odds. I believed in him [and] I thought he was a chance, the only concern was the draw. 'But he had a good start, he led, he controlled the race and he held that to the line.' Hamelin will depart Hong Kong and return to France at the end of this season, but he will be giving his all until the end of the season. 'I will just do my best to the end. It's hard to plan a target a month before I leave but I will just do my best and try to get as many winners as I can before I leave,' said the jockey.
RTHK
2 days ago
- RTHK
O'Brien wins record-extending 11th Derby with Lambourn
O'Brien wins record-extending 11th Derby with Lambourn Jockey Wayne Lordan rides Lambourn to victory at the Epsom Derby. Photo: AFP Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien won a record-extending 11th Epsom Derby as Lambourn put up an astonishing performance to lead from start to finish on Saturday. For O'Brien it completed an extraordinary two days as Minnie Hauk won the Oaks on Friday and his Jan Brueghel won the other Group One race the Coronation Cup. It is not the first time the 55-year-old has achieved the Oaks/Derby double, last doing it in 2020 with Love (Oaks) and Serpentine. Jockey Wayne Lordan was never challenged in winning his first Derby on his ninth ride in the race considered to be the 'blue riband' of flat racing. None of the other fancied horses landed a blow and it was two outsiders that were closest at the finish – Lazy Griff (50/1) was second with 28/1 chance Tennessee Stud, trained by O'Brien's son Joseph, third. "I knew I'd gone a good gallop, his ears were pricked and I knew he had plenty left," said Lordan. "He's a horse that we've always felt stays well so I just thought anybody that gets to me will have to stay well and it'd be tough for them." Lordan's career was in doubt a couple of years ago after a dreadful fall in the Irish Derby in which he suffered a fractured leg and elbow. Saturday, though, represented his biggest ever victory. "It's one of the greatest races," said the 43-year-old. "For any jockey that wants to start out, all they ever want to do is win the Derby and I work for Aidan, Ballydoyle, Coolmore so I'm in a lucky position that I get to ask for a horse like this." (AFP)
RTHK
3 days ago
- RTHK
Postecoglou sacked by Spurs despite Europa League win
Postecoglou sacked by Spurs despite Europa League win Ending Tottenham's 17-year trophy drought was not enough to save Ange Postecoglou. File photo: AFP Ange Postecoglou was sacked as Tottenham manager on Friday, just 16 days after the Australian ended the club's 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League. Postecoglou led Tottenham to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao to clinch the north Londoners' first European prize in 41 years and secure a place in next season's Champions League. But the Australian paid the price for Tottenham's worst domestic season since they were relegated from the top flight in 1976-77. "Following a review of performances and after significant reflection, the Club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties," a statement on Tottenham's official X account said. Exactly two years after he was hired from Celtic, Postecoglou's eventful spell in north London was brought to an end by chairman Daniel Levy. Tottenham lost 22 of their 38 Premier League games to finish 17th in the table, above only relegated trio Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton. "The Board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place," the statement said. "Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the club's greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph." (AFP)
