Pierre Ng Pang-chi is confident he has Galaxy Patch on target to defend his Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m) crown on October 19 when the classy miler takes on a star-studded field headlined by Voyage Bubble and My Wish.

An emerging talent with six wins in his debut season, highlighted by a Group Three double in the Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) and Premier Plate (1,800m), Galaxy Patch comfortably accounted for prolific Group One winner Voyage Bubble in last year’s Sha Tin Trophy before showing indifferent form throughout the rest of his campaign.

The Wandjina gelding added three placings to his record, including a second in the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m), but he often raced without luck or had too much ground to make up from back in the field.

Jerry Chau Chun-lok will be the fifth jockey to ride Galaxy Patch in a local race when the 25-year-old teams up with Ng’s stable star for the first time on October 19.

Chau has put Galaxy Patch through his paces in two recent trials – a sixth behind My Wish and fast-finishing third to Invincible Shield.

“He had his second trial last week and he went really well. We’re happy with his form,” Ng said.

“He’s going to have one more trial before he runs on October 19 in the mile. His form has picked up gradually since his first trial, so we’re happy.

“Jerry will ride him for the first time – we’ll try it out, Jerry will get the experience on him and hopefully we can get a good result.”

Galaxy Patch boasts the second-highest rating of the expected Sha Tin Trophy contenders on a mark of 121, with the 134-rated Voyage Bubble set to carry top weight of 135lb for his seasonal reappearance.

My Wish, a brilliant winner of the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) first up, will be on the 115lb minimum with a rating of 114.

Reigning Group One Champions Mile victor Red Lion, the consistent Beauty Joy, Straight Arron and last season’s Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero Cap Ferrat are among the other expected Sha Tin Trophy runners.

Ng, who broke through for his first win of the season at Sha Tin on Saturday with Yoda’s Choice, also has Mugen set for the Group Two Premier Bowl (1,200m) on October 26 after the sprinter bounced back from a recent setback.

“He got a swollen leg and then a couple of days later, he had a swollen hind leg as well,” Ng said of Mugen, who ran third under a hold in a three-horse dirt trial at Sha Tin on Monday.

“After 10 days he was better and back in work. He’s going to have another trial before we try him in the sprint race on October 26 with blinkers on.

“Hopefully that sharpens him up a bit. As we know, he’s ageing and the ability is going down a bit, but hopefully [the gear change] helps.”

Mugen won the Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) and ran third in the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) last year, but he has struggled since a trip to Japan when running 13th in the Group One Sprinters Stakes (1,200m) just over 12 months ago.