Patch Of Cosmo leads charge toward Four-Year-Old Classic Series
Zac Purton lauded trainer Manfred Man’s horsemanship after Patch Of Cosmo (NZ) (Super Seth) successfully returned from injury to stake a claim for the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Sidelined since March, 2025 after suffering a tendon injury, Patch Of Cosmo eclipsed a classy group of rivals to win by a neck from Aerodynamics and Pope Cody in 1m 34.53s after jumping from barrier nine.
Rated 77 pre-race, the Super Seth gelding deserves his place in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, according to Purton, who will ride Sagacious Life in the first leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which also includes the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 1 March and the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March.
“First of all, it was a really good training performance. This horse has been off from 10 months with a tendon (injury) and he’s come back at the top of Class 3, carrying a lot of weight, first-up at a mile and he’s won,” Purton said. “That’s not easy to do.
“So, they want to take their place in the Four-Year-Old (Classic) Series now and he’s not going to be out of place. He’s a relatively lightly-raced horse, he’s got plenty more there.”
Patch Of Cosmo was sold by Waikato Stud at the 2023 Karaka Book 1 Sale to Richardson Racing and was then offered by Riversley Park at the Ready To Run Sale where he was sold to Mr KM Yeung.
Emblazon (Zoustar), made it three wins from six starts for Cody Mo and Chau when the 64-rater overhauled Flash Current in the first section of the Class 3 Fencing Handicap (1400m). Emblazon was sold by Riversley Park at the 2023 Ready To Run Sale and won a trial for Paul Richards.
Trainer Jamie Richards slotted a double with three-year-old Cool Boy (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the first section of the Class 4 Cycling Handicap (1200m) for James Orman. Richards also struck when City Gold Banner swept to victory under Zac Purton in the Class 3 15th National Games Hong Kong Medallists Cup Handicap.
“Cool Boy has been racing well, I thought it was a good effort considering he had to carry 135lb,” Richards said. “He was aided by a beautiful ride from James, who’s riding really well.”
Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle slotted his first winner in Hong Kong when he piloted John Size-trained Flow Water Flow (NZ) (Proisir) to victory in the Class 4 Triathlon Handicap (1600m).
“Very happy and it’s a great place to be competing. I’ve been very lucky, I’ve been getting on some nice horses in the last few weeks. I’ve been getting plenty of support and massive thanks to John Size. He’s been extra special, he’s been throwing a lot at me and thankfully I can reward him with a winner,” the Irishman said.
“He (Flow Water Flow) had a really good record coming into this race. He’d been hitting the crossbar (with three seconds) in his first three starts. Stepping up to 1600m was going to be a big help to him today and he was good and strong the last 100 metres – thankfully, he got his head in front.”
Flow Water Flow was sold from the draft of Kiltannon Stables at the 2023 Ready To Run Sale to Merrick Staunton.
