GOLDEN SIXTY AND GALAXY PATCH TUNE UP FOR CHAMPIONS MILE WITH STRONG TRIAL WINS AT SHA TIN

City's most successful galloper and rising star set for enthralling Champions Day battle on April 28 after warming up in style

Golden Sixty and Galaxy Patch set the scene for an exciting Group One FWD Champions Mile clash while California Spangle warmed up for his Group One hat-trick bid at the Sha Tin trials on Tuesday.

Champion galloper Golden Sixty was given a searching hit-out in a 1,200m trial on the all-weather surface, responding to Vincent Ho Chak-yiu's vigorous riding from the 300m to mow down his rivals and win by one-and-three-quarter lengths.

Sidelined by a minor leg injury in January, Francis Lui Kin-wai's stable star is primed for his bid for a record-extending fourth consecutive Champions Mile victory on April 28.

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"I think he needed that because after the international race [Group One Longines Hong Kong Mile last December], he has been on and off and that's only his second barrier trial," Lui said of Tuesday's trial, which Golden Sixty won in 1:10.31.

"[The Champions Mile] will be a good race and I still have to prepare him for it."

The Champions Mile is a potential swansong for Golden Sixty, an incredible winner of 26 of 30 starts and a record HK$165 million in prize money.

Galaxy Patch also stamped his Champions Mile claims with a strong trial win, storming home from worse than midfield to score by a neck when under a hold late by Karis Teetan.

Pierre Ng Pang-chi's rising star will face another big test after slashing seconds to California Spangle in the Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) and Massive Sovereign in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) at his past two starts.

"He did very well," Ng said of Galaxy Patch's trial win in 1:10.48.

"It was quite easy enough and his racing manner seems to be more mature. The jockey felt like he has really improved from his last race.

"During the trial he settled more, so he's much easier to handle. We're just trying to switch him into a 'press button horse' and he did that in the trial, so I'm happy enough."

Australian jockey Blake Shinn will again team up with Galaxy Patch after almost pinching the Derby on him last month.

"He's been very impressive over pretty much every distance. What I'm looking for is a good run against Golden Sixty. We'll be happy and to just learn from that race - he will be a better horse next season," Ng said.

California Spangle led and was under a strong hold from Brenton Avdulla when running second in Golden Sixty's trial.

The Tony Cruz-trained sprinter is likely to start a hot favourite in the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) on Champions Day, on the back of wins in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup and Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) at Meydan.

"I'm happy with him. He's had a busy last six weeks. He won here, he went to Dubai and he seemed to travel well and did a good job. He's come back and he's only just got out of quarantine [on Monday]," Avdulla said.

"He trialled this morning - he was moving well, feeling well and I thought he trialled just as well as he did to prior to me riding him in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup."

California Spangle will face one less rival in the Chairman's Sprint Prize after Ng withdrew Duke Wai from the HK$22 million sprint on Tuesday.