Westbury Park-bred graduate Galactic Voyage made it back-to-back victories in Hong Kong when he rocketed home to win the Citi Wealth Hcp (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
In-form jockey Jerry Chau was at his brilliant best on the WA-expat helping him overcome a wide draw and a slow start as well as avoiding a pocket to obtain a run from the back half of the field. Once in the clear, he descended down the centre of the straight for a powerful victory over Mickley (Soldier’s Call) and Sight Hermoso (Headwater).
Galactic Voyage (4g Impending – Sandida by Hinchinbrook) went out a $3.80 favourite following a similar display in the Tai Hing Hcp (1200m) on February 8. “He is a very good horse and in trackwork, he’s just very settled and relaxed,” said Chau. “He just does his own work and on race day, he wants to win.”
Galactic Voyage doubles up in Hong Kong / Photo SCMP
Those two wins from just four starts have netted the equivalent of AUD 702,000 for his owner Lam Ngai who is a client of trainer Francis Lui.
Formerly known as Galactic Empire in Australia, he won on debut for trainers Grant & Alana Williams as an odds-on favourite after winning barrier trials at Lark Hill and Pinjarra.
“He bolted in first-up at Ascot last year,” Westbury Park’s Phil Ibbotson recalled. “His owners then accepted a big offer from Hong Kong.”
Westbury Park sold him for $55,000 to Williams Racing at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions Winter Sale. His dam Sandida is an unraced half-sister to G3 VRC Matron Stakes (1600m) winner Felicienne (Al Maher) and LR SAJC C S Hayes Memorial Cup (1600m) winner Dylanson (Dylan Thomas).
Ibbotson had purchased Sandida for $42,500 at the 2021 Inglis Digital June Sale and he has retained her 2yo colt Splendida (Splintex). Her filly foal is by A Lot (USA) who stands at Westbury Park in association with Willaview Park.
Westbury Park sold two A Lot fillies to trainer David Harrison at last month’s Perth Magic Millions. The half-sister to black-type winning sisters Cryptic Love and Cryptic Wonder (Lot 118) made $60,000 while the filly from Amelia’s Missile (Lot 124) changed hands for $50,000.
