Trainer Pierre Ng Pang-chi has confirmed he was “running out of time” to get Galaxy Patch ready for the Classic Mile, with connections ultimately deciding a sprint campaign was far more suitable at this stage of the progressive youngster’s career.

Just seven days after Ng confirmed Galaxy Patch’s participation in February 4’s Classic Mile, the exciting galloper was a notable omission from the list of 15 entries released on Monday.

The championship-leading handler said a combination of time pressure and lack of experience over the distance forced connections to reconsider their options.

“It’s a big jump from 1,200m to a mile and we were running out of time,” Ng said. “We didn’t buy the horse for any Classic Mile or four-year-old series run, so we’d much prefer to keep him sprinting. Hopefully, he can up his rating after each run.

“The owner made the decision. A couple of days after the last win, he thought Galaxy Patch was going to run [in the Classic Mile], but then he said the horse isn’t going to run, so we decided against it.”

A winner of his sole sprint in Australia, Galaxy Patch has subsequently cemented himself as one of the most exciting up-and-coming speedsters in Hong Kong with four victories from five post-import starts.

After recording a hat-trick of successes with another convincing win over Sha Tin’s 1,200m course on January 13, Galaxy Patch is set to return to the same course and distance for his next assignment before targeting new heights.

“The plan is to run him in a Class Two on February 12 and in time, yes [he can be a Group One sprinter],” Ng said. “It’s just a matter of how he develops and how his rating goes. We’ll just have to do it gradually.”

Among the nominations for this year’s Classic Mile are Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained trio Helene Feeling, Chill Chibi and Moments In Time, who all stepped out for a 1,200m trial on a cold and miserable Tuesday morning at Sha Tin.

“They trialled OK, but this morning the track is not very good,” Shum said. “They will all run in the Classic Mile and I think they can all run well.”

Joining them in the Classic Mile will be Beauty Crescent – the mount of Andrea Atzeni – and the John Size-trained Howdeepisyourlove, who will be partnered by James McDonald after the pair finished sixth in a Class Two 1,400m contest on Sunday.

“I was very happy with his run and he had a bit of a task from back in the field,” McDonald said. “I thought he stayed on reasonably well over the 1,400m and I’d love a good barrier with him over the mile to switch him off and run it strongly.”

The superstar Kiwi hung around after his Group One heroics aboard Voyage Bubble in Sunday’s Stewards’ Cup (1,600m) to partner with Romantic Warrior on the Sha Tin dirt on Tuesday morning.

After travelling powerfully in the early stages, Romantic Warrior overhauled Youthful Deal to win the 1,200m hit out in preparation for the Group One Gold Cup (2,000m) on February 25.

“He’s in great form. I’m really thrilled with him and he pulled up extremely well,” McDonald said. “It’s probably just what he needed to stimulate him again and get him ready for a month’s time when he’s got a big task ahead of him.

Races in HK, Dubai and Japan can all be part of a big five months for Bubble

“He’s had his lovely break. He’s enjoyed himself and he has a spring in his step. He’s moving extremely well and I’m sure he might have one more trial that will tick him over beautifully.”

Meanwhile, Francis Lui Kin-wai provided an update on Golden Sixty’s recovery after the highest-earning horse in history was sent for scans on Tuesday to assess his recent setback.

“He’s OK, but of course, we are still waiting for the report,” Lui said. “We get the results in maybe one or two days. It’s not that serious, we just keep going.”