Patch Of Stars shines bright to continue meteoric rise in Sha Tin Vase
Riversley Park Ready to Run graduate Patch Of Stars (All Too Hard) continued his quick march through the grades with a game performance to deny Raging Blizzard (NZ) (Per Incanto) and claim the Gr.3 Sha Tin Vase (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
It was a fourth win of the season for the All Too Hard galloper, who began his remarkable sequence 13 months ago when securing a Class Four contest off a rating of just 50.
Since that success, he had rattled off another five wins and climbed 51 rating points heading into Sunday and this was undoubtedly his biggest step forward yet with a clinical performance to deny a trio of rivals, who have been tangling with Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) in recent starts.
Confidence was high in the Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained four-year-old, who was backed from $5 into $2.85 and his legion of supporters never had much worry.
Karis Teetan managed to get his mount beautifully settled on the rails in fifth, stalking an even pace set by Stellar Express (Zoustar). As the race began in earnest in the straight, Teetan found himself bottled up with nowhere to go, with what looked to be plenty of horse underneath him.
The gap eventually appeared at the 300m and his willing partner needed no second invitation, slicing through between Sky Trust (So You Think) and Tomodachi Kokoroe (Written Tycoon) and quickly taking the lead at the 200m.
Raging Blizzard began his charge down the middle of the track and looked a significant danger as the post loomed, but Patch Of Stars dug deep and fended him off by a short head, much to the delight of Man’s assistant trainer Wing Ip-hang.
“He was really good, the horse is super honest and the jockey rode him really well. The pace was good for the horse, before he was struggling a bit in the back but he had a good draw today so he performed really well,” Wing said.
“He’s a good horse in the morning, he relaxes well. I ride him every day and he’s been getting better and better. He’s still young and I think he can improve. I was a little bit confident watching; I’m really happy.”
It was a second win in the race for jockey Teetan, who was drafted in to ride Ka Ying Rising to success in 2024.
Although it would not have been quite the same level of acceleration, Teetan was quick to praise his mount, while also thanking Man for the chance spare.
“It’s nice to pick up a nice ride in this race. When I looked at the form, I thought it was gonna be a nice ride in this race with the weight, with the draw,” Teetan said.
“I actually got a smooth passage today and he was very well through the week when I worked him and when I pressed the button today, he responded really well.
“All the credit to Manfred and his team and thanks to the owners for supporting me.”
It was a very successful day for New Zealand-bred and Karaka sourced horses at Sha Tin with six further winners on the card.
Riversley Park showed why they are one of the best in the business a second Ready to Run sale graduate, Aeroinvincible (NZ) (Per Incanto), winning the Hakka Cup (1400m).
Dual New Zealand Bloodstock graduates Ka Ying Lightning (NZ) (All Too Hard) and Family Jewel (NZ) (Time Test) were also winners.
Ka Ying Lightning, bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds, won the Mei Zhou Association Cup (1000m). Initially sold from Pencarrow’s 2024 Book 1 draft for $120,000, he was later sold to John Foote Bloodstock for $200,000 at the Ready to Run sale from the draft of KB Bloodstock.
Family Jewel, winner of the General Association Heyuan Societies Cup (1600m), was first sold from the Book 2 draft of Little Avondale Stud for $52,500 and sold later that year from the draft of Woburn Farm for $75,000.
Other Karaka graduates to win were Oldtown (NZ) (Territories) – from Haunui Farm’s 2023 Book 2 draft, and Ka Ying Attack (NZ) (Too Darn Hot) – from Jamison Park’s 2022 Weanling Sale draft.
Double Win (NZ) (Burgundy) won the Federation of Huichow Associations Cup (2000m).
