{"id":11432,"date":"2025-12-12T14:49:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T06:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ctr-campaigns.hkjc.com\/racing-event-hub-hkir\/?p=11432"},"modified":"2025-12-12T17:29:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T09:29:51","slug":"mcdonald-banking-on-galaxy-patch-repeat-in-longines-hong-kong-mile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/campaigns.hkjc.com\/racing-event-hub-hkir\/en\/news\/mcdonald-banking-on-galaxy-patch-repeat-in-longines-hong-kong-mile","title":{"rendered":"McDonald banking on Galaxy Patch repeat in LONGINES Hong Kong Mile"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11434″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” onclick=”link_image”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

The stars aligned for James McDonald when he partnered Galaxy Patch for the first time in the G2 BOCHK Private Wealth<\/em> Jockey Club Mile (1600m) last month, and the rider is hoping a similar scenario can play out in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) on Sunday (14 December).<\/p>

The duo has a perfect record going into the HK$36 million contest after the six-year-old put in a powerful finish up the inside rail to defeat Sunlight Power, Happy Together and My Wish last time. All three runners reoppose at the weekend to form a strong local challenge.<\/p>

It was Galaxy Patch’s first victory since the G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) in October, 2024, but he has always threatened to develop into a top-level performer and McDonald\u2019s assistance could prove the key.<\/p>

\u201cI was very impressed with him and his trial afterwards was even more impressive,\u201d the rider said in a press conference at Sha Tin Racecourse. \u201cI thought he was brilliant coming out of that race.<\/p>

\u201cWe\u2019ve always known he\u2019s a very good horse, he just hasn\u2019t had the rub of the green at times due to his racing style, but he\u2019s as good a horse as any of them and he just needs luck to go his way.<\/p>

\u201cIt\u2019s a big field and he\u2019s going to need pace on because he gets back, but he\u2019s definitely capable of running over the top of them. He\u2019s up to this level and he gives you a good feel.\u201d<\/p>

Red Lion could manage only 12th behind Galaxy Patch, but his rider Hugh Bowman believes he can perform to a higher level this time around.<\/p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]

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Galaxy Patch wins his most recent start in November.<\/p>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

A replica of his win in the G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) in April, when defeating Voyage Bubble, would put him in the reckoning, and Bowman believes there is cause for optimism.<\/p>

\u201cHe tends to take a bit of time to hit his peak,\u201d Bowman said.\u00a0 \u201cI feel like the same pattern has developed this year and he\u2019s going better than his last start suggests. I think in another couple of months he\u2019ll be going better again, but he\u2019s going well enough to run a really strong race.<\/p>

\u201cThe competition is very high and he\u2019s going to have to be at his absolute premium to win. He\u2019s going well, feeling well and mentally and physically comfortable.\u201d<\/p>

My Wish was only fourth behind Galaxy Patch on his most recent start, but the five-year-old is feared most.<\/p>

\u201cI have a healthy respect for My Wish,\u201d Bowman said. \u201cI think he could bounce back from a below-par performance in the build-up. It\u2019s the most competitive race on the card.<\/p>

\u201cRed Lion is a very courageous horse, and he tries his hardest. He likes to roll along and if he can get a bit of peace mid-race he\u2019ll be there at the 200m.\u201d<\/p>

Sunday\u2019s (14 December) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin starts at 12.25pm with the Class 4 Fairy King Prawn Handicap (1400m).<\/p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11434″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” onclick=”link_image”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The stars aligned for James McDonald when he partnered Galaxy Patch for the first time in the G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) last month, and the rider is hoping a similar scenario can play out in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) on Sunday (14 December).The duo… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":11436,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"2normal","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/campaigns.hkjc.com\/racing-event-hub-hkir\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11432"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/campaigns.hkjc.com\/racing-event-hub-hkir\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/campaigns.hkjc.com\/racing-event-hub-hkir\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/campaigns.hkjc.com\/racing-event-hub-hkir\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/campaigns.hkjc.com\/racing-event-hub-hkir\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11432"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/campaigns.hkjc.com\/racing-event-hub-hkir\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11494,"href":"http:\/\/campaigns.hkjc.com\/racing-event-hub-hkir\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11432\/revisions\/11494"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/campaigns.hkjc.com\/racing-event-hub-hkir\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/campaigns.hkjc.com\/racing-event-hub-hkir\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/campaigns.hkjc.com\/racing-event-hub-hkir\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/campaigns.hkjc.com\/racing-event-hub-hkir\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}