Blake Shinn believes his hit-and-run mission to gallop BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) contender Galaxy Patch “could be the difference between winning and losing” after climbing aboard the speedster for the first time at Sha Tin on Monday morning.

With regular rider Karis Teetan committed to the David Hayes-trained Star Mac for Sunday’s HK$26 million feature, trainer Pierre Ng Pang-chi has engaged Shinn in the hope his soft hands in the saddle can help Galaxy Patch settle in his first run at further than 1,400m.

“He gave me a great feel here this morning. It’s nice to have a sit on him before the big race and I can’t wait for Sunday,” Shinn told the Post on Monday morning.

“It was Pierre’s idea and I was available to fly up after Saturday’s racing and make it happen. I thought it was a good idea, I thought it was important to do so and I’m happy to do it. It could be the difference between winning and losing – I’ll tell you after Sunday.”

Second behind California Spangle in the Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) on March 10, rising star Galaxy Patch will run in the Derby just three weeks on from his fifth over Sha Tin’s straight 1,000m after owner Yeung Kin-man paid the HK$260,000 late entry fee last week.

“It’s great to get the call up from Pierre and the owners. He’s obviously a top four-year-old in Hong Kong and I’m excited for the ride,” said Shinn, who flies back to Melbourne on Monday afternoon before returning to Hong Kong following Saturday’s Golden Slipper meeting in Sydney.

“The horse is in great order. He’s in top form, it was a great run in the Group One behind California Spangle and I think he’s trained on beautifully. He’s there to run well if he can relax and run the distance out.”

Shinn also rode work for Caspar Fownes while at Sha Tin and will team up with the handler with a handful of runners this Sunday, including last-start winner Sky Heart.

In town to ride Elliptical in the Classic Cup (1,800m) for Fownes on March 3, Shinn piloted Sky Heart to a maiden victory and is hopeful the three-year-old can be right in the finish again this weekend.

Elliptical, who could only manage 11th in the Classic Cup, initially missed the Derby field but was promoted after the scratching of California Voce last Friday.

Fownes confirmed Brenton Avdulla, who was set to partner Tony Cruz’s California Voce, will now jump aboard Elliptical.

In other Derby news, early favourite Helios Express - who missed some work last week because of an infection - galloped at Sha Tin on Monday morning and appears to be progressing the right way.