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Galaxy the new mile star as Wunderbar wins again

Patch had everything covered and Wunderbar was wonderful.

That’s the short summary of a significant Sha Tin Sunday and the young stars are starting to shine in the post-Golden Sixty era.

True, GALAXY PATCH was receiving 6lb from Voyage Bubble in the Sha Tin Trophy, but the way he swept clear of that proven G1 performer suggests that Vincent Ho has found a horse to keep him in the big time.

The normally cautious Ho insists that Galaxy Patch “would have smashed them easier” had he been fully tuned up for his first run since June.

Add in the fact that Galaxy Patch seems to be settling much better nowadays – allied to his ability to produce a rasping turn of foot on demand - and it looks like HK racing has found yet another ace miler.

Wunder keeps raising the Bar

Wunderbar has a long way to go before G1 talk begins but John Size’s chestnut is now 6-7 after giving 10lb and a narrow yet decisive beating to the useful Bottomuptogether under Zac Purton in Sunday’s Class 2 finale.

Size is famously cautious about throwing young horses in deep but a lack of imminent handicap options means he is thinking of giving Wunderbar a crack against the best sprinters in town in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint.

Ka Ying Rising looks bound to loom large among the opposition on November 17th but David Hayes’s gelding faces an important test much nearer to hand when he takes on G1 winners California Spangle and Invincible Sage in the G2 Premier Bowl this Sunday.

Comet to flash across the Valley

Purton is averaging a little better than two winners a meeting at a strike rate of 27 per cent this season and the fact that he climbs back aboard MA COMET for the Swifty Handicap (12.35) at Happy Valley on Wednesday is notable.

This gelding shaped nicely under the champ on his debut back in February and has looked a winner in waiting several times since, most recently when a close third after a wide trip with little cover over course and distance last month.

Securing smooth sailing is Purton’s speciality and Ma Comet has landed on a Class 4 featuring plenty who look hard to fancy.

This looks an ideal slot for Jamie Richards’s gelding but there is at least one potential improver in opposition and ROARING BEBE – who showed promise twice under Zac in May and June – offers interesting saver and Quinella potential after showing plenty of dash to win a couple of recent trials.

Five star General

Wednesday’s Speedy Handicap (2.10) has attracted several capable sprinters including recent winner Spicy Gold and Valley debutant Storming Dragon, who has Purton again after going off too hard for his own good at Sha Tin a couple of times.

But there is one horse in this Class 4 who has ticks in several significant boxes.

Step forward PERFECT GENERAL, who caught the eye on his sole run last year and duly improved on his Valley reappearance, travelling strongly in front under Hugh Bowman then finding plenty to fend off Chateauneuf as the pair drew clear.

Perfect General clocked the fastest of four 1200m times on the night (including a decent Class 3) and Chateauneuf polished the form by winning in Class 3 on his next start.

A 7lb rise asks a new question but the General is clearly on the up and Bowman is 8-16 for Caspar Fownes this season. Add in a fair draw (5) and this likeable four-year-old clearly has a great deal going for him.

Time to take the Healthy option

Rematches are a regular feature of HK handicaps and the market for the Longines Cup (2.45) suggests that HEALTHY HEALTHY is poised to reverse September form with old rival Brave Star.

And the market is probably accurate.

Pierre Ng’s gelding endured a tough trip from stall 9 when chasing Brave Star home over 1200m at the Valley four weeks ago and has since confirmed that he’s returned in good heart by coming home strongly for fourth under Jerry Chau over 1000m.

A 4lb pull with Brave Star tips the scales in Healthy Healthy’s favour here.

He’s also fared better in the draw than his old rival (7 plays 11) and the fact that Purton is back aboard is another plus point in a race where at least half the field look very hard to make a case for.

Wednesday’s Valley Views

• 12.35: Ma Comet/Roaring Bebe
• 2.10: Perfect General
• 2.45: Healthy Healthy

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