Two-time reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) was allotted barrier four in a field of 10 mile specialists from Japan and Australia in addition to the locals as he shoots to equal the record of Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan) with a third consecutive victory in Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Winner under a five-pound penalty of the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Mile when making his seasonal debut three weeks ago, the 7-year-old has won 22 of his 25 starts to date for record Hong Kong earnings of over HK$116 million. With his chief rival California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) expected to make the running from gate two and with a pair of get-back runners in Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) and 2021 runner-up More Than This (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) drawn one and three, respectively, Vincent Ho should be able to pick his spot and let Golden Sixty do the talking late.
“I got what I wanted,” trainer Francis Lui told South China Morning Post. “He can sit midfield and stay out of trouble. [Golden Sixty] is ready.”
On an afternoon where some HK$110 million is on offer, the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup over the metric mile and a quarter is the day's richest at HK$34 million, not to mention the most interesting from a tactical standpoint. Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is one of four in the race for Japan and landed the eight hole, with trainer Yoshito Yahagi assuring that the dead-heat winner of this year's G1 Dubai Turf will not be difficult to find.
“I don't care about the barrier draw because I know one thing–he will go to the front,” the colourful Yahagi, conditioner of last year's Cup heroine Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), told the Post.
His compatriot Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), whose sire won both a Hong Kong Mile (2015) and Hong Kong Cup (2016), could make things at least a bit tricky, as he may be ridden for speed by Yutaka Take from his low draw in two. The once-beaten Hong Kong rising star Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and James McDonald leave from barrier seven in what is clearly his toughest task to date.
For obvious reasons, double-digit alleys are not preferred in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, and gate 10 is not ideal for reigning champion sprinter Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}), though trainer Richard Gibson was taking it in his stride.
“Wellington, I'm pretty relaxed. He'll be finishing off from that draw, and that's maybe his forte. We're short of options. I haven't even spoken to Ryan [Moore], but at first glance, that's what we'll be doing,” he told SCMP.
Ryan Moore, who subs for the injured Alexis Badel, won the 2020 Sprint from the riverside draw aboard Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}). Conversely, the up-and-coming Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) saw his already-strong hand fortified when landing a cosy slot in three.
Half of the field of 10 signed on for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase has shipped in from Europe, led by recent GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Half of an Aidan O'Brien-trained duo, the 3-year-old breaks from the inside stall and he should find himself in a race that is often times run at a crawl. Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) carries Yutaka Take from gate six, while Mendocino (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}, gate 7) and Bubble Gift (Fr) (Nathaniel {Ire}, gate 6) and Godolphin's Botanik (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}, gate 5) have earned their right to tackle the race. Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) tries to make some history of his own as he goes for a third Vase in four years and second in a row and carries Joao Moreira from the four.
Further easing in the local COVID restrictions meant that the biggest crowd since January–better than 13,000 racegoers–took in Sunday's BOCHK Jockey Club meeting at Sha Tin in person and were they ever rewarded. Making their seasonal debuts and having a single prep towards next month's Longines Hong Kong International Races, both two-time defending Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) and last year's champion 4-year-old Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) were outstanding in taking out the G2 Jockey Club Mile and G2 Jockey Club Cup, respectively, while Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) confirmed the high regard in which he is held with a first victory at group level in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint.
G60 Overcomes Slow Tempo and Chief Rival in Mile
The last time Golden Sixty was as long as even-money was when winning the Hong Kong Classic Cup in February 2020 and you have to go back to September 2019 for the last time he was not favoured in a race. But given the recency and pace advantage possessed by the upstart California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), the tote read Golden Sixty 2.0 (evens) and 1.6 (3-5) on his younger rival. It would prove value in the end.
Allowed to find his footing at the tail of the pack, Golden Sixty was given a typically patient ride by Vincent Ho as California Spangle ambled them along through an opening 800 metres in :49.23. Ho went for Golden Sixty perhaps a few strides earlier than normal and the 7-year-old had the front-runner in his sights at the top of the straight. California Spangle loves a fight as evidenced by his battles with Romantic Warrior in last year's Classic series and, having spent little in transit, had something left when confronted at the 200m. But Golden Sixty, who routinely does things horses just don't do, finished off his race in a wicked :21.32 and clawed back California Spangle–who ran home in :21.60–for the victory while carrying a five-pound penalty.
“It was crawling at first and the turn I knew, around the 600 [metre mark], that Zac [Purton] will pick up the pace for sure, so I was just keeping an eye on what he was doing and I had to come out and make my move earlier,” Ho said. “I knew Golden Sixty would have the heart to run him down but he's only 80 percent fit, so the last bit is his mental toughness. Definitely all credit to him and the team–we're looking forward to December now,” and a chance to match the Hong Kong Mile three-peat of Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan).
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong BOCHK PRIVATE WEALTH JOCKEY CLUB MILE-G2, HK$5,000,000, Sha Tin, 11-20, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:34.02, gd.
1–GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS), 128, g, 7, by Medaglia d'Oro 1st Dam: Gaudeamus (GSW-Ire, $179,846), by Distorted Humor 2nd Dam: Leo's Lucky Lady, by Seattle Slew 3rd Dam: Konafa, by Damascus
(A$120,000 Ylg '17 MMGCYS; NZ$300,000 2yo '17 NZBRTR). O-Stanley Chan Ka Leung; B-Asco International Pty Ltd (Qld); T-Francis K W Lui; J-Vincent C Y Ho; HK$2,850,000. Lifetime Record: 2x Horse of the Year, Ch. Middle Distance Horse, Ch. 4yo & MG1SW-HK, 25-22-1-1, HK$116, 250,600. *1/2 to Igitur (Aus) (Helmet {Aus}), SP-Aus; and Rainbow Connection (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), GSP-Aus. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–California Spangle (Ire), 123, g, 4, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Pearlitas Passion (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFORB). O-Howard Liang Yum Shing; B-M Enright; T-Tony A S Cruz; J-Zac Purton; HK$1,100,000.
3–Waikuku (Ire), 128, g, 7, Harbour Watch (Ire)–London Plane (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€33,000 Ylg '16 TATSEP). O-Jocelyn Siu Yang Hin Ting; B-Shane Molan; T-John Size; J-Silvestre de Sousa; HK$5750,000.
Margins: NK, 2H, 2 1/4. Odds: 1-1, 3-5, 31-1.
Also Ran: More Than This (GB), Excellent Proposal (Aus), Turin Redsun (GB), Kings Shield. Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.
Romantic Warrior Picks Up Where He Left Off
Last seen completing the rare BMW Hong Kong Derby/G1 FWD QE II Cup double, Romantic Warrior saw his return to the races delayed by a wrenched ankle in August, but a pair of stiff 1600-metre trials had him on go and he returned victoriously Sunday.
Ridden positively from the widest barrier by James McDonald–subbing for the recovering Karis Teetan–Romantic Warrior landed in the one-out and one-back spot as recent G3 Sa Sa Ladies' Purse H. winner Money Catcher (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}) set reasonable fractions. Felt for with about three furlongs to race, Romantic Warrior was finding his best stride approaching the final 400 metres and kicked home strongly to score cosily from perfect-trip Tourbillon Diamond (Aus) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) for a Danny Shum-trained quinella. Senor Toba (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) stayed on well for third at a trip short of his best.
“First of all, I would just like to send my well wishes to Karis,” said McDonald, winner of this year's G1 W.S. Cox Plate and completing a double on the program. “Obviously, he would [normally] be on this horse and it's a pleasure to be warming the seat for him for when he gets back–and I'm sure he'll be back very shortly. [Romantic Warrior] can only improve off that. I thought he did enough in the end–and probably had enough in the end–but he's a great horse and he knows where that winning post is.”
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong BOCHK JOCKEY CLUB CUP-G2, HK$5,000,000, Sha Tin, 11-20, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 1:59.23, gd.
1–ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE), 128, g, 4, by Acclamation (GB) 1st Dam: Folk Melody (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire) 2nd Dam: Folk Opera (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire) 3rd Dam: Skiphall (GB), by Halling
(300,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; HK$4,800,000 HRA '21 HKJUN). O-Peter Lau Pak Fai; B-Corduff Stud & T J Rooney; T-Danny C S Shum; J-James McDonald; HK$2,850,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 4yo & G1SW-HK, 9-8-0-0, HK$42,815,400. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Tourbillon Diamond (Aus), 123, g, 6, Olympic Glory (Ire)–Modave (NZ), by Montjeu (Ire). (A$7,000 Ylg '18 MMJUN). O-Shum Mak Ling, Jimmy Tang, Bennie Lau Yuk Lung & William Shum Wai Lam; B-Arrowfield Group Pty Ltd (NSW); T-Danny C S Shum; J-Alexis Badel; HK$1,100,000.
3–Senor Toba (Aus), 123, g, 5, Toronado (Ire)–Bahamas (Aus), by Teofilo (Ire). (A$180,000 Ylg '19 INGMAR). O-Willie May Syndicate; B-D Peacock (SA); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Vincent C Y Ho; HK$5750,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, HF. Odds: 6-5, 77-10, 8-1.
Also Ran: Ka Ying Star (GB), Money Catcher (NZ), Panfield (Chi), Beauty Joy (Aus), Savvy Nine (Fr), Russian Emperor (Ire). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.
Redemption For Lucky Sweynesse
While the progressive Lucky Sweynesse may have been somewhat disappointing when failing to take advantage of an 11-pound weight concession from champion sprinter Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) in the G2 Premier Bowl H. four weeks ago, the 4-year-old turned the tables Sunday with a determined victory in the Jockey Club Sprint.
Asked for some early speed by Zac Purton, Lucky Sweynesse secured a good spot in centerfield as triple-digit longshots Kurpany (Fr) (Mayson {GB}) and Computer Patch (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) ensured a good gallop. In the slipstream of the odds-on Wellington as they raced into the final three furlongs, Lucky Sweynesse was pulled out about seven wide off the home corner and rolled up outside of Wellington at the 200-metre mark. But Wellington could find no more soon after and Lucky Sweynesse went on with it to score narrowly. Lucky Patch (NZ) (El Roca {Aus}), last year's G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint favourite who went down in that nasty fall, finished gamely for second, while Duke Wai (NZ) (Per Incanto) came from well back to complete a New Zealand-bred 1-2-3. The winner covered his final half-mile in :43.62.
“I thought it was a soft win. He's done a good job, he's a horse on the way up,” said Purton. “He didn't begin that great. I didn't have any option but to take the spot I got, which worked out well with the way the race was run.”
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong BOCHK PRIVATE BANKING JOCKEY CLUB SPRINT-G2, HK$5,000,000, Sha Tin, 11-20, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:07.55, gd.
1–LUCKY SWEYNESSE (NZ), 123, g, 4, by Sweynesse (Aus) 1st Dam: Madonna Mia (NZ) (SW-NZ, $134,764), by Red Clubs (Ire) 2nd Dam: Hill of Hope (Aus), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Macozie (Aus), by Marscay (Aus) 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST STAKES WIN. (NZ$90,000 2yo '20 NZBRTR). O-Cheng Ming Leung; B-P L Dombroski, Explosive Breeding Ltd & S A Sharrock; T-Manfred K L Man; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,850,000. Lifetime Record: 10-7-2-1, HK$12,752,200. *Full to Signora Nera (Aus), G1SP-Aus, GSP-NZ, $145,027. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Lucky Patch (NZ), 123, g, 6, El Roca (Aus)–Gould (Aus), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (A$40,000 Ylg '18 MMJUN). O-Patch Syndicate; B-G Harvey; T-Pierre P C Ng; J-Jerry C L Chau; HK$1,100,000.
3–Duke Wai (NZ), 123, g, 7, Per Incanto–Swan Lake (NZ), by Green Perfume. (NZ$40,000 Wlg '16 NZBMAY; NZ$45,000 Ylg '17 NZBFEB; NZ$70,000 RNA 2yo '17 NZBRTR). O-Herman Wai Ho Man; B-Waikato Stud Ltd; T-Pierre P C Ng; J-Harry Bentley; HK$5750,000.
Margins: NK, 1, HF. Odds: 7-2, 30-1, 68-1.
Also Ran: Sight Success (Aus), Cordyceps Six (Aus), Wellington (Aus), Stronger (Aus), Sky Field (Aus), Super Wealthy (Aus), Courier Wonder (NZ), Computer Patch (Aus), Winning Dreamer (NZ), Kurpany (Fr), Master Eight (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.
There were no surprises among the winners on Sunday's FWD Champions Day program at Sha Tin Racecourse, as the betting favourites in each of the afternoon's three Group 1 affairs each prevailed with a fair bit of authority. Fittingly, the winners will each take down year-end honours in their respective divisions, even as the award for Hong Kong Horse of the Year figures to remain an open and much-debated question for the next 2 1/2 months.
Romantic Warrior Dusts Elders in QE II Cup…
In one of the afternoon's biggest surprises, BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) was crunched into $18 (4-5) favourtism as the gates loaded for the G1 FWD QE II Cup, but the once-beaten and relatively unexposed gelding proved more than equal to the task, storming home to score by two convincing lengths.
A touch keen around the first turn beneath Karis Teetan, who welcomed a baby girl into the world just this past Tuesday, Romantic Warrior settled better down the backstretch as he took up a midfield berth. Getting the jump 600 metres out on his chief market rival Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})–who sat three wide without the benefit of cover for most of the second half of the race–the 300,000gns Tattersalls October yearling turned HK$4.8-million graduate of the Hong Kong International Sale launched his bid four deep at the top of the straight, took over a furlong from home and kicked on nicely to best Tourbillon Diamond (Aus) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) and last year's champion stayer Panfield (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky) in decisive fashion.
“It's been a great week with my little baby girl being born on Tuesday, so all my focus was going into her,” said Teetan, perenially among the top five riders in Hong Kong. “I was trying to be a daddy, but also put my focus into the racing.”
He added, “We had in mind that he's a bit younger than the other horses, but he's better than all of them and he proved what kind of horse he is today. [Trainer] Danny [Shum] and his team have done a great job.”
Of the four previous 4-year-olds to complete the Derby/QE II double–Vengeance of Rain (NZ), 2005; Ambitious Dragon (NZ), 2011; Designs On Rome (Ire), 2014; and Werther (NZ), 2016– only the first mentioned failed to be named Horse of the Year, due to the presence of the legendary Silent Witness (Aus).
Romantic Warrior, the sixth Group 1 winner for Rathbarry Stud's Acclamation, is the third foal from his dam, a daughter of Folk Opera, whose biggest racetrack success came in the 10-furlong GI E. P. Taylor S. at Woodbine and whose resume also includes a victory in the G2 Darley Prix Jean Romanet. Folk Melody's last listed produce is a 2-year-old colt of this season named Operation Gimcrack (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who fetched 160,000gns from Bryan Smart Racing at last year's Tattersalls October Sale.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong FWD QE II CUP-G1, HK$25,000,000 (£2,439,936/€2,932,335/A$4,294,414/US$3,186,815), Sha Tin, 4-24, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:00.13, gd.
1–ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE), 126, g, 4, by Acclamation (GB) 1st Dam: Folk Melody (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire) 2nd Dam: Folk Opera (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire) 3rd Dam: Skiphall (GB), by Halling 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (300,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; HK$4,800,000 HRA '21 HKJUN). O-Peter Lau Pak Fai; B-Corduff Stud & T J Rooney; T-Danny Shum C S; J-Karis Teetan; HK$14,250,000. Lifetime Record: 8-7-0-0, HK$39,065,400. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tourbillon Diamond (Aus), 126, g, 5, Olympic Glory (Ire)–Modave (NZ), by Montjeu (Ire). (A$7,000 Ylg '18 MMJUN). O-Shum Mak Ling, Jimmy Tang, Bennie Lau Yuk Lung & William Shum Wai Lam; B-Arrowfield Group Pty Ltd (NSW); T-Danny Shum C S; J-Alexis Badel; HK$5,500,000.
3–Panfield (Chi), 126, h, 5, Lookin At Lucky–Esterina II (Arg), by Orpen. O-Yue Yin Hing; B-Agricola Taomina Ltda; T-Tony Millard; J-Antoine Hamelin; HK$2,500,000.
Margins: 2, NK, NO. Odds: 4-5, 20-1, 73-1.
Also Ran: Ka Ying Star (GB), Russian Emperor (Ire), Columbus County (NZ), Zebrowski (NZ), Reliable Team (NZ), Cheerful Days (Aus), Savvy Nine (Fr). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
Golden Sixty Makes History In Champions Mile…
Any lingering memories of consecutive losses earlier this season by reigning Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) have been well and truly washed away after the 6-year-old overpowered Derby runner-up California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in Sunday's G1 FWD Champions Mile, his second straight win in the event. The winner's share of HK$11 million and change for his unprecedented 21st victory makes Golden Sixty the richest galloper in the history of Hong Kong racing, surpassing the previous mark held by Beauty Generation (NZ).
California Spangle, off as the heavily backed $26 (8-5) second favourite, was gunned to the front by Zac Purton, who gave the Goffs Orby grad every conceivable chance, rationing out a moderate tempo. But, as he demonstrated in his bounce-back success in the G2 Chairman's Trophy last time, Golden Sixty is capable of sitting handier to the speed while still managing a finish, and such was the case again Sunday, as Golden Sixty raced just a few lengths in arrears on the turn, lowered the boom on his younger rival with a bit less than a quarter-mile to travel and coasted in. California Spangle gamely held for second while no match for the winner.
“He did well,” jockey Vincent Ho said in what might be the understatement of the year. “He travelled comfortably and, actually, when Zac steadied the pace a little bit, he started to travel a bit keen, but he is strong enough and brave enough to push through that gap and run them down easily.”
After first panning the idea of an overseas trip owing to the ongoing pandemic, trainer Francis Lui indicated such a journey might be in the cards after all, with the June 5 G1 Yasuda Kinen around a left-handed one-turn mile at Tokyo the potential target.
“Yes, he is entered already but of course, we have to see how he recovers and we also need to see the quarantine, whether we can go and how the arrangements work. If everything is easy, we will go,” Lui said.
Bred on the same cross as American Grade I winners Elate and New Money Honey and on a similar cross to champions Rachel Alexandra (HOTY) and Songbird, Golden Sixty has a foal half-sister by Medaglia d'Oro's G1 Golden Slipper S.-winning son Vancouver (Aus). Gaudeamus was most recently bred to Wootton Bassett (GB) on an Oct. 26 cover.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong FWD CHAMPIONS MILE-G1, HK$20,000,000 (£2,439,936/€2,932,335/A$4,294,414/US$3,186,815), Sha Tin, 4-24, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:32.81, gd.
1–GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS), 126, g, 6, by Medaglia d'Oro 1st Dam: Gaudeamus (GSW-Ire, $179,846), by Distorted Humor 2nd Dam: Leo's Lucky Lady, by Seattle Slew 3rd Dam: Konafa, by Damascus
(A$120,000 Ylg '17 MMGCYS; NZ$300,000 2yo '17 NZBRTR). O-Stanley Chan Ka Leung; B-Asco International Pty Ltd (Qld); T-Francis Lui K W; J-Vincent Ho C Y; HK$11,400,000. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year, Ch. Middle Distance Horse & Ch. 4yo-HK, 24-21-1-1, HK$113,400,600. *1/2 to Igitur (Aus) (Helmet {Aus}), SP-Aus; and Rainbow Connection (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), GSP-Aus. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–California Spangle (Ire), 126, g, 4, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Pearlitas Passion (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). (€150,000). O-Howard Liang Yum Shing; B-M Enright; T-Tony Cruz A S; J-Zac Purton; HK$4,400,000.
3–Excellent Proposal (Aus), 126, g, 5, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Procrastination (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (A$200,000 Ylg '18 MMGCYS). O-Kenneth Chung Kin Shu; B-; T-John Size; J-Joao Moreira; HK$2,000,000.
Margins: 2, HF, NO. Odds: 2-5, 8-5, 40-1.
Also Ran: Champion's Way (Aus), More Than This (GB), Waikuku (Ire), Mighty Giant (NZ), Healthy Happy (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
Wellington Repeats In Chairman's Sprint Prize…
Trainer Richard Gibson was not lacking for confidence ahead of Sunday's G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize, and defending champion Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) made it look all too easy with the softest of victories. Having won the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup and the G2 Sprint Cup in his two most recent appearances, the 5-year-old has all but locked up champion sprinter honours for the season.
One of the first to break the line, Wellington eased back into fifth position and he traveled with cover behind a good gallop up ahead. Traveling sweetly on the turn, he eased out four deep into the straight, descended on Computer Patch (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) at the furlong grounds and edged clear. Sky Field (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), winner of the accident-marred G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, was home third just ahead of an unlucky Super Wealthy (Aus) (Epaulette {Aus}) in fourth.
“I've been pinching myself for the last three weeks,” Gibson said. “The horse was ready three weeks ago and I was waking up every morning and saying to myself 'what can go wrong?' It was all going far too smooth. I thought we had the best horse, so it was a matter of getting our plans right. His groom has such a wonderful relationship with the horse and we knew if we ticked the boxes today, he'd get the job done.”
While Gibson might otherwise consider traveling Wellington–he saddled the ill-fated Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}) to miss by a neck in the 2016 G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot–the ongoing virus restrictions will keep Wellington at home near-term.
“Covid changes every two weeks,” Gibson added. “It seems too difficult. We've had such a wonderful season and we've now got plenty of time to sit down with the owners and have a chat.”
One of four top-level scorers for Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus})'s half-brother All Too Hard, Wellington–whose female family includes Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Cerulean Sky (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) and Group 1 Irish Oaks heroine Moonstone (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire})–has an unraced 2-year-old half-sister named Rotorua (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) and a foal full-sister.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong CHAIRMAN'S SPRINT PRIZE-G1, HK$20,000,000 (£2,439,936/€2,932,335/A$4,294,414/US$3,186,815), Sha Tin, 4-24, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.09, gd.
1–WELLINGTON (AUS), 126, g, 5, by All Too Hard (Aus) 1st Dam: Mihiri (Aus) (GSW-Aus, $123,433), by More Than Ready 2nd Dam: Danoise (GB), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Solo de Lune (Ire), by Law Society
(A$70,000 Ylg '18 MMGCYS). O-Mr & Mrs Michael Cheng Wing On & Jeffrey Cheng Man Cheong; B-Kia Ora Stud Pty Ltd, David Paradise, Steve McCann (NSW); T-Richard Gibson; J-Alexis Badel; HK$11,400,000. Lifetime Record: 16-10-1-0, HK$40,056,190. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Computer Patch (Aus), 126, g, 5, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Girl Hussler (Aus), by Hussonet. (A$800,000 Ylg '18 INGEAS). O-Yeung Kin Man; B-Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia Pty Ltd (NSW); T-Jimmy Ting; J-Matthew Chadwick; HK$4,400,000.
3–Sky Field (Aus), 126, g, 5, Deep Field (Aus)–Laravissante (NZ), by O'Reilly (NZ). (NZ$175,000 Ylg '18 NZBJAN). O-Kwan Shiu Man, Jessica Kwan Mun Hang & Jeffrey Kwan Chun Ming; B-M Ryan (NSW); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Blake Shinn; HK$2,000,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NO, NO. Odds: 19-10, 19-1, 24-5.
Also Ran: Super Wealthy (Aus), Hot King Prawn (Aus), Sight Success (Aus), Stronger (Aus), Lucky Express (Aus), Lucky Patch (NZ), Kurpany (Fr). Scratched: Master Eight (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
While the ongoing complications caused by COVID-19 have resulted in no overseas competition, Sunday's FWD Champions Day meeting at Sha Tin will not lack for intrigue, as the region's top horses face a real challenge from the first two home in last month's BMW Hong Kong Derby.
Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) is the afternoon's pin-up horse as he seeks an unprecedented 21st career victory when he goes in defence of his crown in the G1 FWD Champions Mile. The 6-year-old suffered the second and third losses of his career in the G1 Stewards' Cup and G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, respectively, but bounced back with a resounding success in the G2 Chairman's Trophy last time Apr. 3. He's drawn ideally in barrier two and it's full steam ahead, according to his connections.
“We've got a good draw and obviously there should be two or three horses that will have some good pace,” said regular rider Vincent Ho. “Draw two is perfect for us and we can just track up to them and run them down in the straight. Since [his] last start, he's brought on his fitness more and we're confident going into this race.”
California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) cuts back to the mile after finishing a gallant second in the 10-furlong Derby. He was unlucky to lose the Hong Kong Classic Mile after setting the pace from a horror draw and bounced back in the Classic Cup over 1800 metres before just giving in late in the Derby. He will have to be caught.
“It's an exciting part of it,” said jockey Zac Purton. “I don't know where we stand against Golden Sixty–he could just be better than us and that might be the case on the weekend, but we're not going to know until we race against him and I feel that my bloke has still got room to improve.”
Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) looks to become the first 4-year-old since Werther (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) in 2016 to win the Derby and double up in the G1 FWD QE II Cup. After rallying to best California Spangle in the Classic Mile, he was dealt a bad draw of his own and worked home well to be a close fourth in the Classic Cup. He knuckled down late to grab his rival in the shadows of the post in the Derby and will try to keep the ball rolling Sunday.
“Stepping up to open age…will be a big challenge for him, because he won the Derby and it was only against 4-year-olds,” said trainer Danny Shum. “Now, he's against Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is very good over 2000 metres, so it's a big challenge for him.”
Russian Emperor steps back up in trip, having finished a sound runner-up to Golden Sixty in the Chairman's Trophy over a distance that is clearly short of his best. Prior to that, the former G3 Hampton Court S. hero took out the Gold Cup, leaving Golden Sixty in his wake.
The third of the day's Group 1s is the Chairman's Sprint Prize, headed by its defending champion Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}). It figures to be something other than a straight-forward task, however, given the presence of G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint hero Sky Field (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) and Lucky Patch (NZ) (El Roca {Aus}), who was the $3.20 (11-5) favourite in the Sprint, only to go down in that horrific spill at the 400-metre mark.
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