Solar Patch starts drive to Hong Kong Derby
Solar Patch is unraced since July and far behind his five rivals in experience in Thursday’s $334,565 Chinese New Year Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.
Solar Patch was sidelined by a splint bone injury, which kept him out of action for the first half of the Hong Kong season, which began in September. Thursday’s holiday card, the 44th of 88 programs this year, is designed to give Solar Patch a much-needed prep race in advance of a potential start in the Hong Kong Derby on March 17.
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Trained by John Moore, Solar Patch is the lone 4-year-old in a field of six in the Chinese New Year Cup, run at seven furlongs on turf. From Moore’s perspective, there may be enough time to reach the Hong Kong Derby if Solar Patch performs well on Thursday.
“He’s a horse with a lot of talent and I think he is one of my derby picks,” Moore told Hong Kong publicity. “I’m really happy with his progress.”
Solar Patch will carry low weight of 113 pounds, and will be ridden by Silvestre de Sousa.
The race is led by Jolly Banner and Morethanlucky.
Jolly Banner, who will carry 130 pounds, won the Group 3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy at five furlongs on turf at Sha Tin on Jan. 1 at 90-1, ending an 11-race losing streak. Jolly Banner will be ridden by apprentice jockey Matt Poon, who claims three pounds.
Morethanlucky, who will carry 128 pounds, was second to the well-regarded Conte in the Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup at seven furlongs at Sha Tin on Jan. 1. Trained by Frankie Lor, Morethanlucky will be ridden by Alexis Badel, who was aboard in the Challenge Cup.
Morethanlucky has been effective as a stalker. A 5-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, Morethanlucky has won 5 of 14 starts since joining Lor’s stable before the start of the 2017-18 season.