Patch Of Theta Wins HK Group 3

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Francis Lui will consider a tilt at the HK$13 million (S$2.3 million) Group 1 Stewards' Cup (1,600m) with Patch Of Theta, after the talented gelding's emphatic HK$4.2 million Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1,400m) triumph at Sha Tin on Jan 1.

Purchased for HK$8.6 million at the 2023 Hong Kong International Sale, Patch Of Theta took his career earnings to HK$11.1 million with his sixth win from only 14 starts after settling sixth, before issuing a late challenge to easily defeat Drombeg Banner and Green N White in 1min 20.91sec.

The impressive nature of the win under Karis Teetan prompted Lui to consider entering Patch Of Theta in the Stewards' Cup - a race he won twice with Golden Sixty.

"He showed he's a really honest horse and he keeps improving every time. After the race, he (Teetan) told me the horse was very good and he's got a third gear, not a second gear," said Lui.

"Of course, we'll think about trophy races. Now he can run between 1,400m and 1,600m, next time we will think about the Stewards' Cup (Jan 19)."

Teetan was also effusive of the Zoustar five-year-old's gallant showing.

"I still think this horse once he knows how to race properly, he's going to be even better," said the Mauritian jockey.

"But with that weight on his back, he went through them and when I got into the straight, he changed gears pretty quickly."