The slow-starting Vincent Ho pinches himself as Galaxy Patch steps into the void of Golden Sixty | HK Racing

Vincent Ho Chak-yiu pinches himself.

He has won nine of the past 13 Group 1 1,600m races at Sha Tin and is now in the box to add a fourth Hong Kong Mile to his CV in five years.

And the timing of Galaxy Patch’s rise couldn’t have come at a better time for the jockey on a number of fronts.

First, and most obvious, is the fact that Ho let the Galaxy Patch ride for himself just as the great Golden Sixty’s career was coming to an end.

He only rode it for the first time in June and the pair have now achieved three group successes together from as many attempts.

Secondly, Galaxy Patch has arrived at a time when Ho hasn’t exactly produced the winners as he might have wanted.

Galaxy Patch’s two Group Three wins in June capped off a fine end to a season that didn’t quite go to plan for Ho – Golden Sixty’s huge Hong Kong Mile win and his win in the International Jockeys Championship aside – with injuries and suspensions played a major role in the rider managing just 41 winners for the campaign – his lowest in six seasons.

And the Galaxy Patch success in the Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m) on Sunday was only Ho’s third win of the campaign, ending a 43-ride drought for the city’s leading local jockey.

There is no doubt about Ho’s ability and he openly admits that Golden Sixty has made him a better jockey. How much his relationship with the ten-time Group 1 winner enhanced his overall performance is not really known.

However, it has certainly kept his name in the spotlight, and there is no disputing that the best years of the jockey’s career to date, both at the highest level with Golden Sixty and from an overall victory perspective, came during the career of the brilliant miler.

Remarkably, Ho is now associated with another galloper who could take him to heights most jockeys can only dream of.

Calling the Galaxy Patch “the next future star” and emphatically stating “he would have smashed them more easily” over the weekend had he not only been 70 percent fit, Ho may have been just as effusive about the new Mile star of Hong Kong as he ever was. about the Golden Sixty.

That’s not to say he thinks he’s as good, but the 34-year-old – who doesn’t often get carried away in the media presence – is certainly excited.

He’s not alone either, and the continued improvement of the Galaxy Patch isn’t just good timing for the jockey.

With Golden Sixty finished, Lucky Sweynesse in injury limbo and Romantic Warrior getting the chance to race more abroad than at home this season, Hong Kong needs new gallopers capable of stepping into the very top echelon.

We probably saw one at Sha Tin on Sunday. Let’s hope we see another one when Ka Ying Rising steps out in the Group Two Premier Bowl (1,200m) this weekend.

Avdulla joined for The Everest

Brenton Avdulla is set for Saturday’s Group 1 The Everest (1,200m) at Randwick, with Coolmore confirming on Monday afternoon that Storm Boy will fill his spot ahead of fellow three-year-old colt Switzerland.

“Looking forward to teaming up with the big boy on Saturday,” Avdulla posted after the news was confirmed, ending days of uncertainty after the Hong Kong-based rider was provisionally booked to ride Storm Boy, while Coolmore waited to see what Switzerland had to offer this weekend.

However, Ben Thompson is still looking for certainty as he waits to see if his horse, Sayedaty Sadaty, will score a run in Saturday’s Group One Caulfield Cup (2,400m).

While Sayedaty Sadaty sits just outside the official field of 18 players, it appears he will be promoted if he is finally accepted on Tuesday, while other runners will be left out.

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