By Declan Schuster
Galaxy Patch could next take on the might of Golden Sixty or Romantic Warrior on FWD Champions Day (Sunday, 28 April) at Sha Tin.
After his slashing second in Sunday’s (24 March) HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) behind Massive Sovereign, Galaxy Patch will be set for the HK$22 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) or HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) – holding entries for both contests.
Mad Cool, second in the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes last October, won for the first time at the highest level in Sunday’s Grade 1 Takamatsonomiya Kinen at six furlongs on turf at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan, beating a field that included 2023 Japanese sprint champion Mama Cocha.
Mad Cool, who paid $23.80 in American pools, was always near the front, while racing on the inside, and took the lead in the stretch. Ridden by Ryusei Sakai, Mad Cool won by a head over 5-1 Namura Clair, who finished three lengths clear of 7-1 Victor the Winner, a shipper from Hong Kong.
Dennis Yip will consider a tilt at the G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) next month after former Irish stayer Massive Sovereign completed an extraordinary rise to glory with a spectacular win in the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) under Zac Purton at Sha Tin on Sunday (24 March).
Providing Yip with his first triumph in the Classic and Purton’s second after Luger in 2015, Massive Sovereign clocked the fastest time in Derby history – 1m 59.85s – since the race distance was changed to 2000m in 2000, bettering champion Golden Sixty’s time of 2m 00.15s, set in 2020.
Lady of Camelot emerged from between rivals to take the lead in the final sixteenth of Saturday’s Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, Australia, giving legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse a record eighth win in the world’s richest race for juveniles.
The Golden Slipper had a purse of $3.28 million.
Lady of Camelot (who paid $14.20 in American pools) edged 62-1 Coleman by a neck with Storm Boy, the even-money favorite, finishing third in the field of 16.
Mama Cocha, the 2023 champion sprinter in Japan, and Victor the Winner, a recent surprise Group 1 sprint winner in Hong Kong, are part of a massive field of 18 in Sunday’s Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at six furlongs on turf at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan.
The $2.17 million Takamatsunomiya Kinen is the first Grade 1 of the year on turf in Japan, preceded by the February Stakes on dirt.
Sometimes longshots prevail in the big time, last year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) is a testament to that when Voyage Bubble won at odds of 45/1, and trainer Frankie Lor is hoping this Sunday (24 March) is one of those days when he saddles Unbelievable in the 147th running of the city’s supreme four-year-old test.
Blake Shinn concedes drawing barrier 14 in the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) with Galaxy Patch is “not ideal” but the Australian believes Pierre Ng’s charge has the temperament and class to overcome the challenge.
“It’s not ideal and it’s another challenge that we have to face with this horse but I still believe that, when I study the draw and look at the opposition, a lot of the other main chances are also drawn wide,” Shinn said.
Storm Boy has been impossible to catch in four starts against Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds in Australia since his debut in early December, winning by at least 1 1/4 lengths in each race after racing prominently.
The Australian-bred Switzerland has been impossible to hold off from off the pace in three starts since his debut in late January, going unbeaten and often showing a fine display of late speed.
