Lucky Patch strikes in Jockey Club Sprint
Overshadowed by Hong Kong’s sprinting elite, Lucky Patch (El Roca) emerged as a legitimate Hong Kong Sprint contender after steaming to success in yesterday’s Jockey Club Sprint (Gr 2, 1200m) for Francis Lui and Jerry Chau.
Ridden perfectly by 21-year-old Chau, Lucky Patch descended late to overtake leaders Computer Patch (Exceed And Excel) and Courier Wonder (Sacred Falls) before thwarting the desperate efforts of Naboo Attack (Warhead) and Sky Field (Dee Field) to snare successive Group 2 spoils.
The gelding was heavily backed late despite Lui’s concerns over the five-year-old jumping from the outside gate in a field of ten and duly justified the support, triumphing by three-quarters of a length in 1m 07.98s.
Last-start winner of the Premier Bowl Handicap (Gr 2, 1200m) under Zac Purton, Lucky Patch improved his overall record to five wins and six minor placings from 15 starts.
“Honestly, I couldn’t say I was confident when I looked at the draw (barrier 10) because I was concerned with the draw but he (Chau) rode him very well. I told him to study how Zac rode him last start. The pace was good and the horse has improved,” Lui said.
“Jerry did a great job and the horse is going very well.”
The typically reserved Lui, who also triumphed with Golden Sixty on a pivotal Bank Of China (Hong Kong) Race Day, was content to deflect to Chau, who is very much regarded as the future of Hong Kong’s riding ranks.
“It’s my best win in Hong Kong. We were lucky, they went fast early and I had a chance to get in and get cover,” Chau said. “It’s very exciting. I’ve won on this horse before but last start Mr Lui gave Zac the horse to ride and he won the race and I was a bit disappointed.
“I didn’t think I would get the chance to ride him again. But luckily Zac chose (Naboo Attack) and Mr Lui gave me the opportunity again. Big thanks to him and the owner. It’s meaningful – I’ll need to have a big celebration.
“I’ve only just finished my apprenticeship and I’m getting some nice opportunities and I’m trying to ride them to the best of my ability.”
Lui indicated Purton, who leads the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship, would be offered the ride on Lucky Patch in the Hong Kong Sprint on December 12.
Lucky Patch’s success came as Group 1 winners Wellington (All Too Hard) and Hot King Prawn (Denman) finished seventh and eighth, respectively.
Courier Wonder, who stalked Computer Patch before striking the front, raced erratically under Joao Moreira over the closing stages to finish two and a quarter lengths fifth from the winner.
Bred in Western Australia, the gelding was purchased by GPI Racing, Healey Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock for $40,000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale in 2018 and was unbeaten in two starts when trained in Australia by Billy Healey and named Paleontologist, before being sold to Hong Kong.
The gelding is out of Gould (Danehill Dancer) who has produced five other winners and she herself is a three-quarter sister to Listed winner Spitz (Danehill).
Lucky Patch’s third dam is Group 3-placed Captivation (Vain) and she produced Listed winner Stimulus (Bletchingly) and Group 2 winner Khaptivaan (Adraan) – the dam of Group 1 scorer Khaptingly (Bletchingly) and Listed winner Khaptrist (Sir Tristram).
Further back the gelding descends from the same family as Listed-winning pair Spanish Bay (Nadeem) and Battlefield (Choisir).
Lucky Patch is one of three stakes winners for Westbury Stud resident El Roca (Fastnet Rock) and he stands at the New Zealand nursery for a fee of $8,000 (plus GST).