Gold Patch goes back-to-back at Sha Tin for Ardrossan & WS

Ardrossan’s rise continued on the international stage at Sha Tin on Sunday when Waikato Stud graduate Gold Patch (Ardrossan ex La Donna) made it consecutive victories with another strong performance over 1200 metres.

Bred by long-time Waikato Stud supporter Dame Lowell Goddard, Gold Patch delivered a memorable result in more ways than one, providing champion jockey Zac Purton with his 100th winner of the season in the Class 3 Enabling Professionals To Flourish For Their Charge Handicap (1200m).

Prepared by Francis Lui, the progressive son of Ardrossan showed plenty of determination after encountering some pressure through the middle stages before producing a sharp turn of foot to put the race away with Purton commenting post-race: “He’s a nice, young, improving horse – he still doesn’t know what he’s doing. He overcame a bit of adversity again in the mid-stages, and he’s shown a nice ability to quicken. He did a really good job.”

Gold Patch was purchased by owner Kin Man Yeung for $250,000 at the NZB Ready To Run Sale and has continued to advertise the strength of Ardrossan’s stock in Hong Kong, where the son of Redoute’s Choice now boasts eight winners from just 12 runners.

Ardrossan’s momentum shows no sign of slowing. The Group-winning son of Redoute’s Choice is striking at an impressive eight per cent stakes winners to runners, while his biggest crop to date was well received through the 2026 yearling sales, headed by a top price of $450,000.

Seventeen Ardrossan yearlings sold for six figures during the sales season, while 60 per cent of his draft at NZB Karaka Yearling Sale was purchased by international buyers.

Among those to secure Ardrossan yearlings this year were Bjorn Baker, Ciaron Maher, Cliff Brown, Matt Laurie, Sheamus Mills, the Shailer Racing team, loyal local supporters Wexford Stables and ready-to-run consignor Ohukia Lodge, with Ardrossan set to stand for an unchanged service fee of $20,000 plus GST this season.