Zac Purton was quick to acknowledge careful horsemanship and patience on Sunday as Patch Of Cosmo announced himself a genuine contender for the Hong Kong Classic Mile, delivering a polished return from a lengthy injury layoff at Sha Tin on 18 January. The performance added fresh intrigue to the opening leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, with Akashvani and Emblazon also underlining their credentials across a competitive afternoon.
Patch Of Cosmo, absent since March 2025 following a tendon setback, defied both time and weight to prevail in a high-quality mile contest. Carrying 135lb and jumping from barrier nine, the Super Seth gelding travelled with composure before edging clear late to score by a neck in 1m 34.53s. Aerodynamics finished strongly for second, with Pope Cody close up in third, as the leading trio drew clear of the remainder.
Purton, who partnered the winner, was generous in his praise for trainer Manfred Man, pointing to the difficulty of returning a horse at this level after ten months on the sidelines. He noted that Patch Of Cosmo, lightly raced and still improving, had shown enough to justify a place in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, the first stepping stone toward the Classic Cup and the Derby later in the season.
Akashvani and Emblazon Add Depth to Hong Kong Classic Mile Form
The supporting evidence for the Hong Kong Classic Mile continued earlier on the card when Akashvani produced a commanding front-running display in the second section of the Class 3 Fencing Handicap over 1400 metres. Under Brenton Avdulla, the David Hayes-trained four-year-old travelled smoothly before accelerating clear in the straight, drawing away to win by three lengths in 1m 21.30s from Super Express.
Hayes was encouraged not just by the margin, but by the manner of the victory. Unfortunate at his previous start, Akashvani appeared to relish the step up in responsibility and now looks well suited to stretching out to a mile, with his pedigree and racing style suggesting further progress is imminent.
Emblazon also kept his upward trajectory intact when landing the first section of the same race, overhauling Flash Current late to record his third win from six starts. The Cody Mo-trained gelding continues to mature steadily and remains another four-year-old worth monitoring as the season builds toward its major targets.
Elsewhere on the programme, Francis Lui enjoyed a memorable treble, highlighted by the promising Hot Delight, who overcame a wide draw to score decisively in the Class 4 Cycling Handicap. Vincent Ho, fresh from steering the three-year-old Too Darn Hot gelding, spoke positively about his professionalism and scope for improvement, sentiments echoed by Lui, who has high hopes for the youngster’s future development.
Jamie Richards also left his mark with a double. City Gold Banner, formerly trained in Australia, made a striking Hong Kong debut in the Class 3 15th National Games Hong Kong Medallists Cup Handicap over 1000 metres, quickening impressively under Purton to stop the clock at 56.83s. Richards later added another success courtesy of Cool Boy, who showed grit and resilience despite carrying top weight.
The afternoon carried a milestone moment for Dylan Browne McMonagle, who partnered Flow Water Flow to victory in the Class 4 Triathlon Handicap over 1600 metres, registering his first winner in Hong Kong. The John Size-trained gelding, consistent without winning previously, found the extra distance to his liking and finished strongly to justify the rider’s growing confidence.
Further down the card, Super Hong Kong rolled back the years to land the Class 5 Rugby Seven Handicap over 2000 metres, while Pegas showed determination to prevail in the Class 3 Sailing Handicap, adding further depth to a meeting rich in narrative and emerging talent.
With the Hong Kong Classic Mile now firmly in focus, Sunday’s Sha Tin meeting provided clarity as well as promise. Several four-year-olds stepped forward at the right time, ensuring the road to the Classic Series remains compelling as the season gathers momentum. Racing at Sha Tin continues with an all-dirt fixture on Wednesday night, 21 January.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.