Two of the impressive winners from December's Longines Hong Kong International Races return to action Jan. 19 at Sha Tin Racecourse, looking to double up on their top-level glory.
The 1,600-meters (about one mile) Stewards' Cup (G1) features a hefty lineup of proven runners, including last year's winner, Voyage Bubble, who comes off a win in the Hong Kong Mile (G1) in December, and a potential future star in Patch of Theta, who takes on the big boys for the first time.
The other known quantities, some of whom have spotty recent records, are Galaxy Patch, Beauty Eternal, California Spangle, Beauty Joy, Chancheng Glory and Red Lion.
The upstart is Patch of Theta, a 5-year-old gelding who has won six times from 14 Hong Kong starts and has been improving in recent efforts. His last outing produced a victory in the Chinese Club Challenge Cup (G3) Jan. 1.
"After every run since last season, you can feel he's getting better," said jockey Karis Teetan. "He's yet to run outside of the top three across his whole career, so his form doesn't lie. I've worked him at track work after his last run and I feel he's going very well. After this race we will know more about him.
"It's going to be a good race. I'm looking forward to riding him. It's always nice getting on horses like him in big races because they're a bit unknown, but as you know they have ability."
Patch of Theta was purchased out of the Hong Kong International Sale for HK$8.6 million (approx. US$1.1 million) by Angela Yeung, which is a big deal for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The HKJC purchases promising young horses at the big sales around the globe, imports them to Hong Kong and offers them at a glamourous event to its members. The goal is to improve competition and spread ownership of top runners in an environment lacking in a breeding program.
The HKJC most recently purchased five colts at the January Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale—the same sale at which Patch of Theta was acquired in 2021—in Queensland, Australia, for a combined outlay of AU$1.445 million (approx. US$900,000).
Centenary Sprint Cup
Also on the program is the Centenary Sprint Cup (G1)—a 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) dash that attracted a field of eight, seven of whom are likely to be chasing Ka Ying Rising at the finish. Ka Ying Rising is riding an eight-race winning streak which was capped by a victory in the Hong Kong Sprint (G1) Dec. 8.
The 4-year-old won a trial heat Jan. 9 under leading Hong Kong jockey Zac Purton at Sha Tin by three-quarters of a length over Voyage Bubble. Trainer David Hayes said that honed his edge to face some of the same rivals he defeated in the Internationals.
"We're very happy with the trial," Hayes said. "He was a little bit fresh before the trial, so this will just settle him down ... And you couldn't have asked for more, could you? It was a beautiful trial. Zac didn't move on him and he went through the motions very well with big margins to third and fourth. It was pretty good."
