Harry Bentley is upbeat about Five G Patch’s claims off a light weight and encouraging Group One run in Sunday’s Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m) at Sha Tin.

Reuniting with Tony Cruz’s consistent galloper for the first time since 2022, Bentley rates Five G Patch a strong chance of breaking through for his first victory since January last year.

Despite the lengthy winning drought, the Camelot gelding has gone close with seven placings since his last success, headlined by his third behind Russian Emperor and Romantic Warrior in the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) last year.

He backs up after finishing strongly from last to run sixth, beaten three and a half lengths, to Romantic Warrior in the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) last Sunday.

“Obviously he’s got the back up, which is something to contend with, but he is a consistent type,” Bentley said.

“He always seems to run a good race. The distance is no problem, the ground’s probably going to be OK for him, so I like his chances off a light weight.”

Five G Patch drops to 118 pounds – just three pounds above minimum-weight contenders Moments In Time, Running Glory, La City Blanche, Ka Ying Generation, Natural Storm, Unbelievable and Turin Mascot.

He gets a crucial weight advantage over Russian Emperor, a three-time Group One winner who must overcome the challenge of lumping top weight of 135 pounds.

“[Five G Patch] has been getting better and better and obviously Russian Emperor brings the class to the race, but he’s got to lug a big weight around, so it does look a perfect spot for him,” Bentley said.

History is also on Five G Patch’s side and against Russian Emperor. The last winner of the Queen Mother Memorial Cup with top weight was Bubble Chic 10 years ago.

Five G Patch contested the same race last year and had excuses when fifth to Straight Arron. He boasted a rating of 80 then and has since elevated to a mark of 100.

In the midst of a strong season with 30 wins, Bentley also has top claims on Hinokami Kagura in the Class Four Manicou Handicap (1,200m) on the all-weather track.

The Jamie Richards-trained gelding went agonisingly close last start when a nose second to Valiant Elegance at the same course and distance of Sunday’s race.

“He seems to really finish strong and if it was 1,400m on the all-weather, that would be right up his street, but he’s racing really well recently,” Bentley said.

“He hits a little bit of a flat spot, especially around the bend, and you think you’re not really going to go anywhere, and he seems to then pick up extremely well in the straight.

“There looks to be a good amount of pace, I think Happy Tango would naturally go forward.

“I thought [Hinokami Kagura] was just going to get up in the dying strides but it wasn’t to be that day, so he’s knocking on the door.”

Hinokami Kagura is one of several strong chances for Richards, who is bidding to end a winless drought of 79 starters at the Sha Tin meeting.

La Forza rates highly for Richards in the opening race, the Argonaut Plate (1,000m) for Griffins, while Storming Dragon looks hard to beat in the Class Four Monaveen Handicap (1,400m) after a sensational debut run when third to Phoenix Light.