For Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, victory in this season’s final feature on rising star Galaxy Patch will help offset the multiple blows he has taken in a roller-coaster campaign.

While Ho has still had reason to celebrate this term, bagging the International Jockeys’ Championship and a sensational Group One Hong Kong Mile triumph on Golden Sixty, the 34-year-old has spent plenty of time on the sidelines through injury and suspension.

A scary off-season fall in Japan which left him with a fractured T5 verterbra and pneumothorax on his lung forced him to miss the first two meetings of the 2023-24 campaign.

He was then hit with a 10-meeting suspension – reduced to eight and a HK$120,000 fine – for failing to ride Capital Delight all the way to the line in October.

Finger and neck injuries suffered in a Sha Tin fall in January again forced Ho to miss significant time.

“It’s been a bit tough, but that’s part of the journey for athletes and jockeys,” Ho said.

“I haven’t been riding too many months this season, so we’ll keep on going this summer and I’m happy to go back to the UK and then Sapporo for the World All-Star Jockeys series. I want to try and enjoy it and ride as much as I can.”

Hong Kong’s top home-grown jockey grabbed the golden opportunity to ride Galaxy Patch for the first time with both hands, lifting Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s stable star to a thrilling Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) win last start.

And he hopes to repeat the dose in Sunday’s Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m), in which Galaxy Patch rises past the mile for the second time following his sensational Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) second to Massive Sovereign.

“He’s the best horse in the field and he’s got plenty of potential, so I’m looking forward to riding him again,” Ho said.

“He’s such a nice horse to ride. Thanks to the owner and Pierre, they let me ride him. Pierre actually asked me, so I’m really grateful for that. He’s a horse that I’ve always wanted to ride, but of course before Karis [Teetan] was on, then someone else was on and sometimes he clashed with Golden Sixty, so I couldn’t really ride him.”

Galaxy Patch has burst onto the scene with five victories and slashing seconds in the Derby and Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) behind California Spangle this season.

Despite a wide draw in barrier 10, Ho is backing the Wandjina gelding’s electrifying turn of foot to help him land back-to-back features.

“He’s not too fast out of the gate anyway. He’ll be wherever he’s comfortable. He doesn’t really have to be too far back,” Ho said.

“He should be very competitive. Hopefully he’ll get the job done.”

Galaxy Patch again clashes with Chancheng Glory, who he beat by a nose in the Lion Rock Trophy, and Lion Rock Trophy third placegetter Beauty Joy.

Happy Together, Nimble Nimbus, Five G Patch, La City Blanche, Sword Point, All For St Paul’s, C P Brave and The Best Peach round out the field of 11.

Ho hopes to add to his 36 wins this season when he also rides Foxhunter Go, Alacrity, Excel Wongchoy, Joy Of Spring, Autumn Delight, Universal Horizon, Moduleconstruction and Galaxy Witness on Sunday.

“Joy Of Spring went close a few times and should have won a couple of times, but hopefully we can make it happen and repay the owner’s patience,” Ho said.

“He always gets bad draws. He’s a bit unlucky.”