Zac Purton knows how difficult it is to maintain winning streaks in Hong Kong, but the champion jockey is adamant Patch Of Stars can continue his rise with an ounce of luck at Sha Tin on Saturday.

With five wins from his past seven starts, the Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained gelding’s rating has soared from 50 to 92 in the space of eight months.

His ascension continued when he passed his first Class Two test last time out, overcoming gate nine courtesy of a brilliant Purton ride to claim the Lukfook Jewellery Cup (1,200m).

While he rises another 4lb in his quest for another hat-trick, Patch Of Stars is more than capable in Purton’s eyes provided he gets the right run from another wide draw in gate 10 in the Class Two Ivy Handicap (1,200m).

“He’s done a really good job. He’s had a great season but the more races you win, the harder it gets and he’s drawn awkward again,” said Purton.

“It’s not going to be easy but he’s working well, so I expect him to run another good race. He’s not going to get lucky every time, last time he got lucky but he’s held his form.”

Purton pushed Patch Of Stars forward from his wide draw last start to settle one-out, one-back and the son of All Too Hard kept on well to beat Invincible Shield by a neck.

Invincible Shield is the beneficiary of a 4lb swing on Patch Of Stars on Saturday, with Francis Lui Kin-wai’s galloper also facing a slightly awkward draw in barrier eight.

Gorgeous Win is the only other last-start winner in the Ivy Handicap, fresh from a strong win on the dirt, while Crimson Flash is another in-form runner after following three straight wins with a second to Colourful King up the straight.

Purton is armed with a strong book of nine rides on the 11-race card, with last-start winners Invincible Ibis and Packing Glory also among his better chances.

Chasing a hat-trick in the Class Three Poinsettia Handicap, Invincible Ibis steps up to the mile for the first time ahead of his tilt at February’s Classic Mile.

“He’s mentally and physically still immature, so you’d like to think he’s going to continue to improve as time goes on,” Purton said of the Mark Newnham-trained gelding.

“He’s certainly got raw ability there – he just needs to get his ringcraft on track a little bit more, but you’d like to think as he goes up in distance he’s going to continue to take those steps.

“He’s been quite sharp in a couple of those starts I’ve ridden him. His turn of foot has been there, but sometimes those horses with a sharp turn of foot struggle as they get out in trip, but we’ll find out.”