Vincent Ho Chak-yiu must be pinching himself.

He’s won nine of the past 13 Group One 1,600m races run at Sha Tin and now he’s in the box seat to add a fourth Hong Kong Mile to his CV in the space of five years.

And the timing of Galaxy Patch’s rise to prominence could not have come at a better time for the jockey on a couple of fronts.

First, and most obvious, is the fact Ho made the Galaxy Patch ride his own at exactly the time the great Golden Sixty’s career was winding down.

He only rode him for the first time in June and the pair have now combined for three Group successes from as many attempts.

Second, Galaxy Patch has come along at a time when Ho hasn’t exactly been churning out the winners as he may have liked.

Galaxy Patch’s two Group Three wins in June made for a nice end to a season that didn’t go exactly to plan for Ho – Golden Sixty’s enormous Hong Kong Mile win and his victory in the International Jockeys’ Championship aside – with injury and suspension playing a big part in the rider managing only 41 winners for the campaign – his lowest in six seasons.

And Galaxy Patch’s Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m) success on Sunday was only Ho’s third victory of this campaign, ending a 43-ride drought for the city’s leading local jockey.

There’s no doubting Ho’s ability and he openly admits Golden Sixty made him a better jockey. Just how much his relationship with the 10-time Group One winner boosted his overall output can’t truly be known.

It certainly kept his name in lights, though, and there’s no arguing that the best years of the jockey’s career so far, both at the top level with Golden Sixty and from an overall win perspective, came during the magnificent miler’s career.

Remarkably, Ho now finds himself associated with another galloper that could take him to heights most jockeys can only dream of.

In labelling Galaxy Patch “the next future star” and emphatically stating “he would have smashed them easier” on the weekend had he not only been 70 per cent fit, Ho may have been as effusive about Hong Kong’s new mile star as he ever was about Golden Sixty.

That’s not to say he thinks he’s as good, but the 34-year-old – who isn’t often one to get carried away in the presence of media – is certainly excited.

He’s not the only one, either, and Galaxy Patch’s continued improvement isn’t just good timing for the jockey.

With Golden Sixty finished, Lucky Sweynesse in injury limbo and Romantic Warrior a chance to do more racing overseas than at home this season, Hong Kong needs new gallopers capable of stepping into the very top echelon.

We likely saw one at Sha Tin on Sunday. Let’s hope we see another when Ka Ying Rising steps out in the Group Two Premier Bowl (1,200m) this weekend.

Avdulla locked in for The Everest

Brenton Avdulla is locked and loaded for Saturday’s Group One The Everest (1,200m) at Randwick, with Coolmore confirming on Monday afternoon that Storm Boy will fill its slot ahead of fellow three-year-old colt Switzerland.

“Looking forward to partnering the big boy Saturday,” Avdulla posted after the news was confirmed, ending days of uncertainty after the Hong Kong-based rider was tentatively booked to ride Storm Boy while Coolmore waited to see what Switzerland dished up on the weekend.

Ben Thompson, however, is still seeking certainty as he waits to see if his mount, Sayedaty Sadaty, will get a run in Saturday’s Group One Caulfield Cup (2,400m).

While Sayedaty Sadaty is sitting just outside the official field of 18, he looks likely to be promoted come final acceptances on Tuesday as other runners fall by the wayside.