Patch Of Stars Claims Group Three Sha Tin Vase in Thrilling Finish

Patch Of Stars continued his quick march through the grades with a game performance to deny Raging Blizzard and claim the Group Three Sha Tin Vase (1,200m) 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 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. 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 pole and his willing partner needed no second invitation, slicing through between Sky Trust and Tomodachi Kokoroe 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.”

The win was part of a double for Man, who also secured the Class Four Hong Kong Federation of Huichow Associations Cup (2,000m) with the Vincent Ho Chak-yiu-ridden Double Win.

Travelling fifth on the rails throughout the journey, Ho switched the Burgundy gelding out as the field swept off the turn and it proved to be a decisive move, with the pair making relentless ground down the centre.

Hitting the lead 300m out, Double Win kept finding for pressure and had enough in reserve to fend off the persistent challenge of Enthralled by a neck, with two lengths back to the third-placed Super Goldendragon.