‘SPECIAL’ GALAXY PATCH POISED FOR EPIC CHAMPIONS MILE CLASH WITH GOLDEN SIXTY

Hong Kong Derby runner-up faces his toughest test yet in Sunday's HK$22 million contest: 'He's been very impressive over every distance'

Galaxy Patch has not missed a beat this season and Pierre Ng Pang-chi hopes his star four-year-old can throw down the gauntlet to Golden Sixty in Sunday's Group One FWD Champions Mile at Sha Tin.

A winner of his sole start in Australia, Galaxy Patch has gone from strength to strength since arriving at Ng's stable and faces his toughest challenge yet on the back of a stellar second in last month's Hong Kong Derby (2,000m).

"He's been very impressive over every distance so far and I'm looking forward to Sunday," Ng said. "I'm hoping for a good run against Golden Sixty - hopefully top three. We'll be very happy with that."

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After triumphing in four of his first five starts in the city, Galaxy Patch knocked on the door in a pair of Class Two contests before facing a stiff test in March's Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m).

Settling at the rear of the field under Karis Teetan on his first outing over the Sha Tin 1,400m, the son of Wandjina showed his customary turn of foot to snatch second behind California Spangle.

Ng then decided to roll the dice and thrust Galaxy Patch into the Derby picture, with his exciting four-year-old thriving over the extended trip.

After sitting last from gate 14 under Australian ace Blake Shinn, Galaxy Patch followed eventual winner Massive Sovereign into the straight before threading the eye of a needle and surging forward in the closing stages.

Galaxy Patch hit the line with plenty of conviction but was narrowly denied by the Dennis Yip Chor-hong-trained Massive Sovereign.

"He's been brilliant the past two weeks," Ng said. "After the Derby he was a bit sad but he's recovered from that race well.

"To finish second in the Derby and the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup - he's definitely special. I don't think soft ground will be too much of a problem for him because it was a bit of a rainy day when he finished second [in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup]."

Galaxy Patch jumps from stall one and faces Hong Kong's most successful galloper, Golden Sixty, as well as Group One Stewards' Cup hero (1,600m) Voyage Bubble and a host of international challengers in his bid to become the first four-year-old since Xtension in 2011 to win the Champions Mile.