Patch Of Cosmo has thrust himself back into the conversation for elite four-year-old honours in Hong Kong, returning from injury with a performance that marked him as a serious Hong Kong Classic Mile contender. In the sixth chapter of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Road to the Derby series, Manfred Man’s progressive gelding has rediscovered his momentum at exactly the right moment of the season.
With the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) set for Sunday, 1 February, and the 149th running of the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) looming on 22 March, the timing of Patch Of Cosmo’s resurgence could scarcely be better. His recent success at Sha Tin followed a lengthy absence after a left fore tendon injury halted his rise in March last year, but the evidence suggests the interruption has done little to blunt his ability.
Patch Of Cosmo had already established a strong profile before that setback, winning four of his first 11 starts. His fifth career victory came in emphatic fashion on 18 January, when he powered home through the centre of the track to land the Class 3 Tennis 1600m Handicap. Carrying top weight of 135lb, he produced a sustained finish that lifted his career earnings beyond HK$5 million and confirmed his readiness for higher company.
That Sha Tin success elevated the son of Super Seth — the 2019 G1 Caulfield Guineas winner — to a rating of 84. It places him joint-sixth among the highest-rated entries for this weekend’s Hong Kong Classic Mile, underlining his credentials in a field widely regarded as one of the strongest in recent seasons.
Although Zac Purton partnered Patch Of Cosmo in his comeback victory and praised Manfred Man’s preparation, the champion rider has elected to ride Sagacious Life this Sunday. The mount therefore passes to Matthew Chadwick, who knows the gelding well, having won twice from three rides aboard him last term.
Chadwick speaks warmly of the horse’s ability and attitude, believing there may still be more to come as Patch Of Cosmo builds fitness and confidence after his layoff.
“I like this horse. He’s a lovely character and he’s got a lovely big stride on him. He’s always given me a good feel, and I was never certain where his ceiling was,” Chadwick said. “It was unfortunate he had that setback last season. I liked the way he was going about his work and his races.”
Chadwick was equally encouraged by the manner of the January return, noting both the race shape and the gelding’s response under pressure.
“You’d like to think he’s got improvement for the run and having a win under his belt. The way it looked, it was a nice race to come back into. He got a nice run through carrying top weight. They’re all positives coming back and I’m sure Manfred has him well. It seems he pulled up nicely and he’s ticking all of the boxes.”
A Competitive Hong Kong Classic Mile
Patch Of Cosmo will face a deep and talented line-up in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, with Sagacious Life, Little Paradise, Invincible Ibis and Beauty Bolt among the principal rivals. The race shapes as a genuine test of emerging class rather than a stepping-stone, and Chadwick believes the contest could have lasting implications for the remainder of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
“It’s shaping up to be a very open, competitive field, so it’s going to be very interesting,” he said. “But I don’t think he’ll be out of place. Last season, I was very happy with him.”
Chadwick also reflected on the overall strength of the generation, suggesting several of Sunday’s runners may yet reach higher ratings as the season unfolds.
“It’s a very good year and the Club will be very happy. It looks like a lot of them haven’t hit their peak and there could be five or six who end up rated over 100. It’s an exciting race and hopefully it will be a good finish. This is exciting for Hong Kong racing.”
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