Blake Shinn has been booked to replace Vincent Ho Chak-yiu on Galaxy Patch in next month’s Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m) at Sha Tin.

The top Australian jockey will reunite with Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s stable star after falling a neck short of Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) success on their first time teaming up in March.

Ho has ridden Galaxy Patch on his past five starts, winning a pair of Group Threes and the Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m) in succession before two luckless defeats.

The Wandjina gelding was caught wide without cover when making a sweeping run and coming up short in last month’s Group Two Jockey Club Mile, finishing third to Voyage Bubble as the $1.7 favourite.

He was then held up for clear running multiple times in the straight when seventh to Voyage Bubble in the Group One Hong Kong Mile last start.

Ng and owner Yeung Kin-man then made the call to Shinn, who is excited to team up with Galaxy Patch again on January 19.

“He’s obviously a really talented horse,” Shinn said.

“I went ever so close in the Derby on him, so to be reunited with him again, I’m really looking forward to it. I’m very grateful to the owners and Pierre for the call up. I love coming back to Hong Kong when I can get there.

“He ran unbelievable in the Mile without luck and if he can enjoy a good run in transit, he’ll be right there.”

A three-time Group One winner in Hong Kong, Shinn almost pinched the Derby when Galaxy Patch stormed home from last to be narrowly beaten by Massive Sovereign.

Shinn also rode Galaxy Patch on his following start when he ran fifth to Beauty Eternal in the Group One Champions Mile, with a yielding track and slow speed thwarting his chances.

The 37-year-old confirmed he will also ride Ng’s classy sprinter, Beauty Waves, in the Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) on January 19.

The Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m) winner will tackle the Group Three Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1,000m) on his next start on January 1.

After losing the Galaxy Patch ride, Ho’s week went from bad to worse when he was concussed after falling from Super Win Dragon at Sha Tin’s all-weather meeting on Wednesday night.

While the leading home-grown jockey will miss Sunday’s 10-race card at Sha Tin, three other riders are on track to return to action on Sunday.

Zac Purton will take a full book of rides, headlined by Wunderbar in the Class Two Poinsettia Handicap (1,200m), after missing Wednesday night’s meeting with illness.

Lyle Hewitson has shrugged off a knee sprain and bruised quadriceps sustained in a nasty fall from Joyful Hunter at Sha Tin last Sunday, with the South African booked for five mounts.

And Matthew Poon Ming-fai will push through a broken toe that forced him to miss the last three races on Wednesday night to take eight rides on Sunday’s card.