Galaxy Patch took another crucial step towards the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) on 8 December with a solid barrier trial under race rider Vincent Ho at Sha Tin this morning (Friday, 29 November).

Settling in a familiar rearward position, Galaxy Patch was allowed to balance up before cruising through the seven-horse field over the closing stages to finish fourth, one and three-quarter lengths behind stablemate Beauty Waves, who defeated Pray For Mir by half a length to win the 1200m dirt hit-out in 1m 10.75s.

Pitted against five other LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) entrants – Beauty Waves, Taj Dragon (third), Invincible Sage (fifth), Beauty Eternal (sixth) and Ensued (sixth) – Galaxy Patch pleased trainer Pierre Ng.

“With Galaxy Patch, I told Vincent just to switch him off in the early stages, save ground on the corner and he seemed willing to finish off well enough in the straight, which is what we wanted and hopefully he can time it right this time,” Ng said. “We want him to run last 400 (metres) strong.”

Beaten as a 1.7 favourite when third in the G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) behind Voyage Bubble, Galaxy Patch remains a work in progress for Ng, who continues to work on the mercurial galloper’s racing manners.

Ng was delighted with Beauty Waves’ impressive showing under Alexis Badel ahead of the gelding’s tilt at the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).

“Beauty Waves was very keen in the trial, he’s fit and well but he’s racing against a very good horse (Ka Ying Rising, in the Hong Kong Sprint) – we’re hoping he can get second this time,” Ng said.

Taj Dragon will contest the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile with Ng indicating the 112-rater will be set for the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) on 1 January after tackling Sunday week’s feature.

“Taj Dragon, at this level it is very competitive for him, so we’re just taking him along and hoping he will run well and we’re aiming him for the Group 3 on the first of January,” Ng said.

Red Lion (LONGINES Hong Kong Mile) finished second to Glorious Journey in the second 1200m batch as Ka Ying Generation (HK$24 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase, 2400m) crossed the line in 11th position.

Howdeepisyourlove impressed with a strong-finishing second to John Size-trained stablemate Wunderbar over 1050m. Rattling home from the turn under James McDonald, Howdeepisyourlove surged to within half a length of Wunderbar, who clocked 1m 00.91s.

Ka Ying Rising continued a smooth preparation for the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin this morning, working over 1200m in 1m 26.80s with stablemate Chateauneuf, gradually building tempo after splits of 33.4s and 31.1s before gliding over the final 400m in 22.3s.

Without A Fight completed a leisurely familiarisation gallop on Sha Tin’s turf course as the G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner continued his build-up to the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).