Classy galloper Patch Of Theta returned to winning ways with a game performance to defy joint top weight of 135lb in the Class One Mirs Bay Handicap (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Last seen in a winning mood when landing the Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m) 13 months ago, the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained galloper made good on a gilt-edged opportunity despite the weight burden.

Travelling midfield in the six-runner affair under Hugh Bowman, Patch Of Theta travelled up well and was brave to sneak through a gap between Tomodachi Kokroe and Light Years Charm as the race unfolded at the 300m pole.

The son of Zoustar eventually built up a head of steam and wore down the long-time leader Drombeg Banner to score by half a length, with Light Years Charm finishing off well in third.

Lui is enjoying a brilliant time of things, training 10 winners in January, and he will now aim his talented charge at the Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) on February 22.

“The jockey knows him well and the horse is a very honest one. The pace was not that slow and that was my worry – if they slowed down the pace he would have fought with Hugh and would not have finished,” said Lui.

“It was a good performance, we will look towards the Queen’s Silver Jubilee on February 22 but I will need to consider it fully.

“Things are going very well at the moment – I’m happy.”

Double delight for McMonagle

Trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai sung the praises of Dylan Browne McMonagle after the Irish champion jockey continued his hot streak with a brilliant double.

It was a red-letter day in Hong Kong for the young star, who “made a big difference” in Blazing Wukong’s hard-charging win in the Class Four Long Valley Handicap (1,600m).

Breaking from stall 12 and held out wide in the early stages, McMonagle never panicked and kept his mount on an even keel, travelling just worse than midfield.

Despite being three wide, the 22-year-old managed to find cover tracking the $2.8 favourite The Golden Knight and after switching into the clear in the straight, he powered home to salute by a comfortable two-and-a-quarter lengths.

“A big part of that was a change of luck. Dylan kept him really well balanced and did exactly what I told him to do,” said Yiu.

“With that weight [135lb], we couldn’t afford to drop too far back and I was happy if he could travel midfield, even three-wide with cover. He gave him time to wind up and he really accelerated well.

“[Browne McMonagle] is a really talented jockey, he’s riding extremely well and it made a big difference.

“The handicapper had kept his rating for a very long time – he’d been knocking on the door. We’ll keep him at the mile for the time being but if he can perform in Class Three, I think I could send him over further gradually.”

McMonagle also secured the opener aboard the John Size-trained Master Lucky, belying odds of $35.4 to make a winning debut.

Hall and Poon bag braces

McMonagle wasn’t the only one celebrating a double on Sunday, with trainer David Hall and jockey Matthew Poon Ming-fai bagging braces of their own.

Hall and Poon combined to win the Class Five Kiu Tsui Handicap (1,200m) with Shotgun, before the former struck with Rising Phoenix in the Class Four Robin’s Nest Handicap (1,400m) and the latter booted home Glowing Praises in the Class Three Hoi Ha Handicap (1,000m).

Shotgun broke through at start 11, going one better than his previous run behind Snowthorn when he led all the way to beat Always Fluke by three-quarters of a length.

“It looked a little bit tricky, gate nine and he had to be a bit busy out of the gate and then [Circuit Victory] from the wider barrier with Ellis [Wong Chi-wang] on was coming and put on a bit of pressure, so I thought we might end up going a bit too quick. But Poon said he relaxed really well in front,” Hall said.

“It’s probably taken a little bit longer to get a win than expected, but he’ll get some confidence out of that and hopefully he can win again.”

Rising Phoenix rocketed home under James Orman to claim his second win this term, while Glowing Praises defied his $32.4 quote to score on his Hong Kong debut for Michael Chang Chi-wang.

A two-time winner in Australia when racing as Enright, the son of Yes Yes Yes kept on strongly to beat another Australian import on Hong Kong debut, Together We Value.