Golden Sixty's outstanding exploits during the 2020/21 season earned the multiple Group 1 victor the Hong Kong Horse of the Year award at a special presentation function held at Happy Valley Clubhouse tonight, Tuesday, 13 July.
The Francis Lui-trained five-year-old was also named Champion Miler and Champion Middle-Distance Horse. In addition, the son of Medaglia d'Oro also secured the bulk of the public vote to claim the Most Popular Horse title for the second consecutive year.
The 2019/20 season's Champion Four-Year-Old showed further improvement this term, with a perfect record of seven wins from seven starts, with the last four wins all at G1 level. Since September 2019, he has maintained an unbeaten run of 14 and he is the first horse to capture the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), G1 Stewards' Cup (1600m), G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) and G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) in the same season, highlighting his versatility and brilliance.
Golden Sixty is the fourth horse in Hong Kong racing history after Good Ba Ba, Able Friend and Beauty Generation to win the Horse of the Year title in the same season as winning both the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile and G1 FWD Champions Mile. In addition to his four G1 wins, Golden Sixty also took the G2 Jockey Club Mile (1600m), G2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy (1600m) and the G3 Celebration Cup (1400m).
Hot King Prawn was named the season's Champion Sprinter. The John Size-trained six-year-old opened his G1 winning account in the Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) in January this year. The Denman gelding was a steady performer throughout the season, finishing out of money only once in his five starts since last October. He also won the G2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) last November.
Panfield was crowned Champion Stayer. The Tony Millard-trained Chilean import was already a G1 victor prior to his arrival in Hong Kong. After opening his Hong Kong winning account in a Class 2 event over 2000m, the Lookin At Lucky colt ran a gallant third behind Sky Darci in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m). He then achieved a career-peak when defeating older rivals, including Exultant, in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) in May.
Sky Darci was the deserving winner of the Four-Year-Old Champion award. The Caspar Fownes-trained galloper won five races this season, including the BMW Hong Kong Derby, the final leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series and the G3 Lion Rock Trophy (1600m). In his final start of the season, he also finished a creditable second behind stablemate Sky Field in another G3 event, the Premier Cup (1400m).
Fantastic Treasure was named the season's Champion Griffin after remaining unbeaten with five wins from five starts in his rookie season in Hong Kong. The David Hayes-trained three-year-old achieved his career highlight to date in a Class 2 1400m contest at Sha Tin, defeating seasoned gallopers to achieve a rating of 94.
The John Size-trained Courier Wonder was named the season's Most Improved Horse. After starting the campaign on a rating of 52, the Sacred Falls gelding soared 55 points to a mark of 107 after remaining unbeaten with five wins from five starts.
Caspar Fownes was honoured with the Champion Trainer title. The battle for the championship was settled before the season finale and Fownes was most deserving of his fourth title, having led for the majority of the season before repelling a strong charge from 11-time champion, John Size.
Joao Moreira was crowned Champion Jockey for a fourth time. The Brazilian rider had a fantastic season of achievements, including becoming only the third jockey in history to notch 1000 winners in Hong Kong. He also won the public vote to earn the Most Popular Jockey of the Year accolade.
The winner of the Tony Cruz Award for the season's leading homegrown rider will be revealed and presented during racing at Wednesday's season finale (14 July) at Happy Valley.
Former Hong Kong Champions Beauty Generation and Exultant were presented with the Lifetime Achievement Awards for their great contributions to Hong Kong racing.
The winners for the 2020/21 season are listed as follows:
Having secured champion 4-year-old honours in 2019-2020, courtesy of his sweep of the local Triple Crown, Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) capped a perfect 5-year-old campaign by being named the Horse of the Year in Hong Kong during ceremonies held Tuesday evening at Happy Valley Racecourse.
Bred in Queensland by Asco International Pty Ltd., Golden Sixty–an A$120,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling turned NZ$300,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run breezer, took his overall winning streak to 14 during the season and to 17 from 18 overall, using his trademark and devastating turn of foot to defeat the evergreen Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) and defending champion Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) for a breakthrough Group 1 success in the Longines Hong Kong Mile in December (see below).
After narrowly besting Southern Legend to win the G1 Stewards' Cup over the metric mile, trainer Francis Lui elected to stretch Golden Sixty back out in trip for the 2000-metre G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup. In a slowly run affair, Vincent Ho set his mount alight three furlongs from home and looped the field, but fellow Derby winner Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}) saved all the ground and the duo battled tooth and nail to the line, with Golden Sixty best by half a head (video). After giving serious consideration to taking on Japan in the G1 FWD QE II Cup in April, trainer Francis Lui stepped his charge back down for the G1 Champions Mile. It proved no easier, however, as his stablemate More Than This (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) ran him to a head in yet another nail-biting finish.
The lone finalist for champion miler, Golden Sixty was also named champion middle distance horse, earning the nod over Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}). The connections of the latter did not leave Happy Valley empty-handed Tuesday, as they were rewarded for their victory in the BMW Hong Kong Derby with this year's champion 4-year-old prize. The NZ$160,000 NZBJAN graduate won five of his nine trips to the post for champion trainer Caspar Fownes and followed his Derby score with his first open stakes success in the G3 Lion Rock Trophy H.
WATCH: Golden Sixty becomes a Group 1 winner in the Longines Hong Kong Mile
In what would have been a hotly contested division, Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}) was named champion sprinter on the strength of a long-overdue first Group 1 tally in the Centenary Sprint Prize in January, with champion jockey Joao Moreira in the saddle. The Torryburn Stud-bred veteran, an A$90,000 purchase out of the 2016 Inglis Sydney Classic sale, left a pair of potential future champions in his wake, including G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize hero Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) and the unbeaten Courier Wonder (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), who debuted–like all unraced newcomers–off a mark of 52 in October and finished on 107 after winning the G3 Sha Tin Vase H. in late May. Courier Wonder was named most improved horse for the 2020-2021 season.
Panfield (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky), a good third to Sky Darci in the Derby, clinched champion stayer honours with his season-ending success in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup over 2400 metres. The Chilean import could be set for the G1 Melbourne Cup, trainer Tony Millard told the HKJC press team Tuesday.
The David Hayes trained Fantastic Treasure (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) was unbeaten in five starts, including a Class 2 score in May, and was named champion griffin for horses aged two or three on the date of the first Hong Kong meeting of the season and which were unraced upon their import into Hong Kong.
The final fixture of the 2020-2021 Hong Kong season is set for Wednesday night at Happy Valley. Racing resumes in early September.
On this day 12 months ago, jockey Vincent Ho guided Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) to an upset victory in the FWD Champions Mile, his first Group 1 score some 10 years removed from being named the champion apprentice rider in Hong Kong and about a month after throwing Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) across the line first in the prestigious BMW Hong Kong Derby.
Sunday's FWD Champions Day program at Sha Tin, attended by the biggest on-track crowd since COVID-19 took hold last year, marked a new high for the homegrown hoop, as not only did he pilot Golden Sixty to a 14th consecutive victory in the G1 FWD Champions Mile (see below), he capped the afternoon with a savvy steer atop Japanese mare Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who led home a 1-2-3-4 finish for the island nation in the day's richest test, the HK$25-million G1 FWD QE II Cup.
“I can't describe it,” Ho told the HKJC notes team, reflecting on his two successes that came about 40 minutes apart. “The QEII Cup is one of my dream goals as well as the Derby and the December internationals, a QEII win means a lot. It's amazing today with Golden Sixty and Loves Only You. It's definitely one of the highlights, I'll enjoy it for sure.”
QE II Cup: How Sweep It Is…
Loves Only You was down in trip for the QE II Cup, having run a cracking third behind Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic over a 12-furlong trip just 29 days back. The 2019 G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) victress jumped without incident from gate five and landed in the one-out and one-back position, as Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) was gifted a cheap time of it up front when potential pace factors Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) and Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) were slowly away.
The early tempo was very much in favour of need-the-lead Time Warp, who went the opening 800 metres in :51.92 and was past the half-mile marker in a dawdling 1:15.45. Defending champion Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) was the first to try to pour some pressure on the front-runner, but Ho got going on Loves Only You leaving the three-furlong point, momentarily locking away favoured Japanese Triple Crown winner Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) down inside. Exultant couldn't quite get to Time Warp and was one of the first beaten, but Loves Only You was busily ridden into the final furlong and came away to score, as Glory Vase closed off nicely for second. Daring Tact found clear racing room in upper stretch, but was not good enough on the day and finished third, while Kiseki made belated progress into fourth.
Loves Only You is the first Hong Kong winner for colourful trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who won the 2016 G1 Dubai Turf with Loves Only You's full-brother Real Steel (Jpn) and the 2019 G1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate in Australia with Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). The latter was beaten a neck by Exultant in the 2018 G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase and was third to compatriot Win Bright (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) in this race during her Horse of the Year campaign in 2019.
Loves Only You is the sixth Japanese-based winner of the QE II (Eishin Preston, 2002, 2003; Rulership {Jpn}, 2012; Neorealism {Jpn}), 2017; and Win Bright). She is the second female to win the race, joining Team Valor's Irridescence (SAf) (Caesour), who scored in 2006.
Pedigree Notes:
Loves Only You's dam was offered in foal to Danehill Dancer (Ire) as an unraced 3-year-old at the 2009 Keeneland November Sale, but nevertheless fetched $900,000, and with good reason.
Loves Only Me is a daughter of Monevassia, a full-sister to Kingmambo and to Miesque's Son, whose multiple champion and MG1SW Rumplestiltskin (Ire) (Danehill) is the dam of G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks winner Tapestry (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and her GSW full-brother John F Kennedy (Ire).
Third dam Miesque requires no introduction. Nine times a champion in England, France and the U.S., the homebred was victorious no fewer than 10 times in Group 1 and Grade I company, including the English and French 1000 Guineas in 1987, and the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois and GI Breeders' Cup Mile in 1987 and 1988, for which she received consecutive Eclipse Awards. Monevassia's half-sister Second Happiness (Storm Cat) is the dam of Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who carried the Flaxman silks to victory in the 2018 G1 Prix du Jockey Club.
The cross of Deep Impact over Storm Cat mares has produced 50 winners from 65 runners (71 foals), of which 11 have succeeded in stakes company (16% SWs to runners), including G1SW's A Shin Hikari (Jpn), Kizuna (Jpn), Satono Aladdin (Jpn), Lachesis (Jpn) and Ayusan (Jpn). Beauty Parlour (Jpn), herself a Pouliches winner, is out of a mare by Storm Cat's son Giant's Causeway.
Since producing her in utero foal, Loves Only Me had a standing date with Deep Impact, accounting for three million-dollar winners. She missed to the late sire in 2018, but is represented by a 2-year-old full-brother to Loves Only You and Real Steel from Deep Impact's final crop. Her yearling is a colt by Duramente (Jpn) and she was most recently covered by Heart's Cry (Jpn).
WATCH: Loves Only You leads a Japanese sweep of the QE II Cup
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong FWD QE II CUP-G1, HK$25,000,000 (£2,321,128/€2,663,169/A$4,159,000/US$3,221,793), Sha Tin, 4-25, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:01.22, gd.
1–LOVES ONLY YOU (JPN), 122, m, 5, by Deep Impact (Jpn) 1st Dam: Loves Only Me, by Storm Cat 2nd Dam: Monevassia, by Mr. Prospector 3rd Dam: Miesque, by Nureyev
(¥160,000,000 Ylg '17 JRHAJUL). O-DMM Dream Club Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm; T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Vincent Ho; HK$14,250,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Jpn, G1SP-UAE, 13-6-1-3, HK$40,536,420. *Full to Langley (Jpn), SP-Jpn, $1,173,360; Real Steel (Jpn), Hwt. Older Horse-UAE at 7-9.5f, G1SW-UAE, MGSW & MG1SP-Jpn, $7,508,769; Prodigal Son (Jpn), SW & MGSP-Jpn, $1,564,219. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Glory Vase (Jpn), 126, h, 6, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Mejiro Tsubone (Jpn), by Swept Overboard. (¥52,000,000 Ylg '16 JRHAJUL). O-Silk Racing Co Ltd; B-Lake Villa Farm; T-Tomohito Ozeki; J-Karis Teetan; HK$5,500,000.
3–Daring Tact (Jpn), 122, f, 4, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Daring Bird (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). (RNA fl '17 JRHAJUL; ¥12,000,000 Ylg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Normandy Thoroughbred Racing Co Ltd; B-Hasegawa Bokujo; T-Haruki Sugiyama; J-Kohei Matsuyama; HK$2,500,000.
Margins: 3/4, HF, 1HF. Odds: 24-5, 37-10, 3-2.
Also Ran: Kiseki (Jpn), Exultant (Ire), Glorious Dragon (Ire), Time Warp (GB). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
Fourteen For 'Sixty'…
After toying with the idea of a start in the QE II Cup, the connections of Golden Sixty sensibly settled on the G1 FWD Champions Mile, where he started a $1.20 (1-5) mortal. In the end, he scraped in just ahead of stablemate More Than This (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) to take his career record to 17 wins from 18 runs, the last 14 in succession.
Golden Sixty and More Than this settled as the trailing duo in a race that drew just six entries, as Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) upsetter Healthy Happy (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) showed the way from Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) through moderate early sectionals. Golden Sixty raced keenly down the back as is his wont–mouth agape–and was clearly last to make the bend after 800 metres in :47.69. Vincent Ho decided he could no longer hold the heavy favourite at the 600 metres, allowing Golden Sixty to sweep around rivals to make a line of four turning for home. The way he asserted a furlong and a half out had whipped those aforementioned fans into a frenzy, but Golden Sixty–who can idle once in front–began to lay in, even under a right-handed whip from Ho. More Than This, meanwhile, was hitting his best stride and was cutting back the margin, only to have the winning post come a fraction too soon. The runner-up's owner also campaigns Playa del Puente (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}), who nearly beat Golden Sixty at 289-1 in the Derby.
“They were a bit slow, and when I pulled out at the 600-metre mark, he was already alongside them, then when I hit the straight he just went for it,” Ho told the HKJC notes team. “He has never been chased and we learnt today that he still can fight when something chases him, not just when he is doing the chasing, which is good.”
Winning trainer Francis Lui added: “He's a very good horse–I was a little bit worried, but Golden Sixty is that kind of horse, when he passes the other horses he thinks his job is done but then when he saw another runner coming he turned it on again.”
Now seven-from-seven this term, Golden Sixty is a candidate for a break, but an historic sweep of the Triple Crown and a bonus loom if he were to add the G1 Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup (2400m) to previous victories in the G1 Stewards' Cup (1600m) and G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) in a month's time. It would mark his first start past 10 furlongs.
“Depends, I will see how the horse recovers and then decide, because the Triple Crown is still under consideration,” Lui said. “I don't think the distance is a worry, he's that kind of horse who will fight no matter what, it just depends on how he recovers.”
WATCH: Golden Sixty makes it 14 straight in the Champions Mile
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong FWD CHAMPIONS MILE-G1, HK$20,000,000 (£1,856,903/€2,130,535/A$3,327,200/US$2,577,434), Sha Tin, 4-25, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.45, gd.
1–GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS), 126, g, 5, 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; T-Francis Lui; J-Vincent Ho; HK$11,400,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 4yo-HK, 18-17-0-0, HK$77,925,600. *1/2 to Igitur (Aus) (Helmet {Aus}), SP-Aus, $132,352. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–More Than This (GB), 126, g, 5, Dutch Art (GB)–Striving (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (40,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Huang Kai Wen; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd; T-Francis Lui; J-Joao Moreira; HK$4,400,000.
3–Southern Legend (Aus), 126, g, 8, Not A Single Doubt (Aus)–Donna's Appeal (Aus), by Carnegie (Ire). (A$280,000 Ylg '14 INGEAS). O-Boniface Ho Ka Kui; B-Corumbene Stud; T-Caspar Fownes; J-Karis Teetan; HK$2,000,000.
Margins: HD, 3HF, HF. Odds: 1-5, 81-10, 38-5.
Also Ran: Healthy Happy (Aus), Ka Ying Star (GB), Mighty Giant (NZ). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
All Too Easy For Wellington in the Chairman's…
For some time, Hong Kong has been looking for its next superstar sprinter, and with Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}) on the shelf and with time having been called on the local stint of The Everest winner Classique Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}), those entered for Sunday's G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize had a chance to stake their claims. Despite a hot $2.20 (6-5) favourite in the form of G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint hero Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Wellington (Aus), a son of Black Caviar (Aus)'s half-brother All Too Hard (Aus), rose to the challenge to lead home a 4-year-old sweep. Danon Smash, subsequent winner of the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, never looked likely, finishing four lengths' sixth.
Settled midfield and one off the fence as Computer Patch (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) set a sedate tempo for the opening 400 metres, Wellington traveled sweetly outside of the rail-skimming Sky Field (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) and about a length ahead of a niggled-at Danon Smash as the real running was about to begin. Eased to the outside of Voyage Warrior (Aus) (Declaration of War) at the quarter-mile marker, Wellington launched his rally down the centre of the course, grabbed a game Computer Patch with 50 metres to race and pulled clear. Sky Field was another nose back in third.
“He had a perfect trip,” said winning jockey Alexis Badel. “The horse was much more relaxed than last time. Honestly, the draw last time was a bit difficult and the ground was faster as well, so it was difficult for me to relax the horse without giving ground.
“Today, I had the perfect race, just close to the pace and more relaxed and when I put a little bit of pressure on my horse, he responded very well. To me, he's a top-class horse and he just proved it today,” Badel added.
Winner of three-from-four during his first preparation last season, Wellington romped over 1000 metres with 133 pounds on his back in Class 3 in December and defeated Computer Patch in Class 1 Mar. 13. He was most recently fifth to 178-1 Amazing Star (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) from a high draw in the G2 Sprint Cup Apr. 5.
Pedigree Notes:
Wellington is the 20th black-type winner, 14th at group level, and the fourth top-level winner for Vinery Australia's All Too Hard. For More Than Ready, who shuttles from WinStar Farm in the U.S. to Vinery for Southern Hemisphere stud duties, his daughters have now produced 108 stakes winners, 50 at the graded or group level and now 13 Grade I/Group 1 winners worldwide.
Wellington's dam, Group 3-placed in Australia, is a daughter of Danoise, who was acquired by breeder Kia Ora Stud for 240,000gns at the 2006 Tattersalls December Mares sale. His third dam, the German stakes-placed Solo de Lune was responsible for Irish highweight L'Ancresse (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), second in the 2003 G1 Darley Irish Oaks and a neck second to Islington (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) in that year's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita. L'Ancresse's son Master of Reality (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was a winner at Group 3 level in Ireland and a longshot third to Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the 2019 G1 Ascot Gold Cup.
Solo de Lune's daughter Moonstone (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) was victorious in the Irish Oaks and runner-up in the G1 Investec Oaks and has gone on to be a high-quality producer, having accounted for G3 Chester Vase winner and Derby runner-up US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), MGSW Nelson (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and three other full stakes winners. Solo de Lune also bred G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Cerulean Sky (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), the dam of GSW & G1SP champion stayer Honolulu (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}).
The 10-year-old Mihiri is the dam of a yearling filly by Star Witness (Aus) that fetched A$85,000 from Tricolours Racing and Syndications at the Inglis Classic Sale this past February and was bred back to All Too Hard last September.
WATCH: Wellington romps in the Chairman's Sprint Prize
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong CHAIRMAN'S SPRINT PRIZE-G1, HK$18,000,000 (£1,671,238/€1,917,592/A$2,994,224/US$2,319,704), Sha Tin, 4-25, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.64, gd.
1–WELLINGTON (AUS), 126, g, 4, by All Too Hard (Aus) 1st Dam: Mihiri (Aus) (GSP-Aus, $123,433), by More Than Ready 2nd Dam: Danoise (GB), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Solo de Lune (Ire), by Law Society 1ST STAKES WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (A$70,000 Ylg '18 MMGCYS). O-Mr & Mrs Michael Chen Wing On & Jeffrey Cheng Man Cheong; B-Kia Ora Stud Pty Ltd, David Paradise, Steve McCann (NSW); T-Richard Gibson; J-Alexis Badel; HK$10,260,000. Lifetime Record: 10-7-1-0, HK$18,424,690. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Computer Patch (Aus), 126, r, 4, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Girl Hussler (Aus), by Hussonet. (A$800,000 Ylg '18 INGEAS). O-Yeung Kin Man; B-Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd (NSW); T-Tony Cruz; J-Matthew Chadwick; HK$3,960,000.
3–Sky Field (Aus), 126, g, 4, 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$1,800,000.
Margins: 1HF, NO, 3/4. Odds: 29-10, 18-1, 11-1.
Also Ran: Voyage Warrior (Aus), Wishful Thinker (Aus), Danon Smash (Jpn), Stronger (Aus), Rattan (NZ), Big Party (Aus), Fat Turtle (Aus), Jolly Banner (Aus), Beauty Applause (Aus), Amazing Star (NZ). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
Golden Sixty extended his unbeaten run to 13 straight wins with victory in Sunday's Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin.
However, Hong Kong's highest rated horse was forced to spare no effort as he scrambled to add a third consecutive Group 1 to his glittering record which now stands at 16 wins from 17 starts, four shy of Silent Witness' record 17 consecutive wins.
Dropped out to his customary position at the rear of the field, the Medaglia d'Oro gelding began his surge in the straight but the challenge from Furore on the inside required jockey Vincent Ho to call on everything that Golden Sixty could give and, it proved just enough as he prevailed by a short head, the smallest margin of any of his wins.
“I was quite confident that I would stay ahead of them but we fought hard – it wasn't easy, it was a bit unexpected to be that close. I was just worried about the horse to the inside of him because Golden Sixty laid in a bit, he would have won easier if he didn't do that,” Ho said.
“Once he went past Exultant he wanted to lay in – it made it difficult for me but it's still a victory,” the 30-year-old added.
Sunday's win was both a first in the Gold Cup for trainer Francis Lui and jockey Vincent Ho.
“I think you can't really change the horse's character – when he passed the third horse (Exultant), Golden Sixty thinks he has finished the job, but there's another horse on the inside,” Lui said.
Now rated 131, Golden Sixty is only two wins shy of Beauty Generation's single-season record of eight and, he has the first two legs of Hong Kong's Triple Crown in the bag after claiming last month's G1 Stewards' Cup.
“I will think about the third leg of the Triple Crown, we also have a race in April in mind,” Lui said referencing FWD Champions Day.
The third and final leg of the Triple Crown is the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup on 23 May and, if successful stepping up to 12 furlongs in three months' time, he could become the second horse after River Verdon in the 1993/94 racing season to win the Triple Crown.
Horse of the Year Exultant battled into third place under Zac Purton, while Glorious Dragon sealed fourth under Matthew Poon behind him, the second of the Lui-trained runners.
