Hong Kong Star by Master Of Design

Master Of Design 3yo Star Of Patch lived up to a promising Hong Kong debut in November with a stunning last-to-first victory on New Year’s Day.

Racing second-up at Sha Tin, the Paul O’Sullivan trained sprinter speared through a gap in the straight to score by a neck in the Wong Leng Hcp (1200m).

Winning jockey Zac Purton was taken by the effort after settling him at the back from a wide gate.  “That was a good win.  We decided to be patient but the horses I was following weren’t taking me into the race.

“He’s still green but went about his business when I gave him a squeeze.  He was all over the joint in the last 200 metres trying to get out and he bumped Joao’s horse on the way through.  But he showed today he’s got an engine.”

Star Of Patch is a first-crop son of Swettenham Stud sire Master Of Design and was in the market after a fast-finishing third down the straight at Sha Tin.  O’Sullivan purchased him for $60,000 at the Inglis Classic yearling sale and then sent him home to mature in New Zealand before a transfer to Hong Kong last year.

He was bred by Mary Bray of Cinque Cavalli Farm at Braidwood in NSW and is a half-brother to Adelaide winner Dancing Poetess (Dylan Thomas).

Their dam Shimmy (Royal Academy) has a Master Of Design 2yo filly that Bray has retained to train.  Named Designer Dance, she will coming back into work shortly.  The mare’s latest foal is a yearling filly by fellow Swettenham sire Americain.

Master Of Design’s second-crop filly Miss Wahoo was also in the frame when runner-up at Flemington on January 1.  She finished resolutely to split Limestone and boom filly Oscietra first-up in the New Year’s Day Plate.

Miss Wahoo is prepared by Tony McEvoy and had been placed in the LR Debutant Stakes at Caulfield in October.  She holds a Group 1 entry for the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25.

STAR OF PATCH