In his first start of the year, Mishriff (IRE) [122] won the Saudi Cup, and the Great Britain-based 4-year-colt leads the first edition of the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2021 as a result.
Mishriff posted a one length victory in the Saudi Cup over Charlatan [120], who was also making his first start of 2021. Last year, Mishriff's biggest score came when he won the Prix du Jockey Club (G1) in France.
Australia's Nature Strip (AUS) [121] is the second highest rated horse in the first edition of the rankings for 2021 after his half-length win in the Black Caviar Lightning (G1) in February, which served as the multiple Group 1 winner's first start of the season.
In co-third, along with Charlatan, are Hong Kong-based runners Exultant [120] and Golden Sixty (AUS) [120]. Golden Sixty, who has now won 13 races in a row, took the Stewards' Cup (G1) in January over Southern Legend [118] and Ka Ying Star [117], and he beat Furore [117] and Exultant in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1) in February. Exultant came into that race having finished second in the Centenary Vase (G3) while carrying 133lbs.
Three horses sit in the co-sixth position as well. America's Knicks Go [119], who finished fourth in the Saudi Cup, started his 2021 campaign with a 2 ¾-length victory in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), while undefeated Life Is Good [119] is the highest rated 3-year-old thus far after winning the San Felipe Stakes (G2) by eight lengths.
In South Africa, Rainbow Bridge [119] added to his list of accomplishments by taking the Cape Town Met presented by Cape Racing (G1) in January by 1 ¾ lengths.
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.
Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) and Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}), winners of the BMW Hong Kong Derby in 2020 and 2019, respectively, treated racing fans to an epic final-furlong battle in Sunday's G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, with the undisputed current king of the hill in the jurisdiction just clawing his way past Furore to take his current winning streak to 13 and his overall record to a spectacular 16 from 17. Golden Sixty is now within four victories of the record currently held by the legendary Silent Witness (Aus) (El Moxie).
The $1.35 (35-100) favourite was taken back to settle in the latter part of the field and switched off nicely for Vincent Ho, as Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) set a very slow early tempo in advance of Playa del Puente (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}), who nearly upset last year's Derby at 289-1. Columbus County (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) rolled forward to try to inject some pace mid-race, as Golden Sixty and Furore eyeballed one another back in the field, the dynamics squarely working against them. The opening 1200 metres were posted in a dawdling 1:15.09, better than a full second outside of standard, and Ho got to work on Golden Sixty, peeling him out and around horses at the 600 metres Meanwhile, Joao Moreira was happy to ride Furore for luck and stuck to the fence. As Golden Sixty wound up on the grandstand side, he looked like he was going to run away, easily claiming defending champion Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) with a furlong and a half to go while wanting to shift inward. But Moreira found a split in upper stretch, shot Furore through and battled with everything he had, only to be on the short end of the bobber. Golden Sixty's final half-mile was timed in :44.48, fractionally faster than Furore's :44.57, albeit with a far inferior trip around the second turn.
“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,” Ho admitted. “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. Once he went past Exultant he wanted to lay in–it made it difficult for me but it's still a victory.”
With foreign targets off the table, the top two are expected to face a rematch in the G1 FWD QE II Cup over the same course and distance Apr. 25. From there, Golden Sixty could go for a sweep of the 'Triple Crown' in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup (2400m), for which he stands to collect an HK$10-million bonus if successful.
WATCH: Golden Sixty outgames Furore in the Hong Kong Gold Cup
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong CITI HONG KONG GOLD CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000 (£1,107,985/€1,281,174/A$1,994,280/US$1,547,816), 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:00.25, 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 '18 NZBRTR). O-Stanley Chan Ka Leung; B-Asco International Pty Ltd (Qld); T-Francis Lui; J-Vincent Ho; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 4yo-HK, 17-16-0-0, HK$66,525,600. *1/2 to Igitur (Aus) (Helmet {Aus}), SP-Aus. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Furore (NZ), 126, g, 6, Pierro (Aus)–Stormy Choice (Aus), by Redoute's Choice (Aus). (NZ$210,000 Ylg '16 NZBJAN). O-Lee Sheung Chau; B-G S A Bloodstock Pty Ltd; T-Tony Cruz; J-Joao Moreira; HK$2,640,000.
3–Exultant (Ire), 126, g, 7, Teofilo (Ire)–Contrary (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O-Eddie Wong Ming Chak & Wong Leung Sau Hing; B-Ballygallon Stud; T-Tony Cruz; J-Zac Purton; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: SHD, 1, 1. Odds: 35-100, 6-1, 22-5.
Also Ran: Glorious Dragon (Ire), Time Warp (GB), Columbus County (NZ), Playa del Puente (Ire). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
Waikuku Back To Best In QSJC…
For the first time in four years, a horse not named Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) has taken out the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup.
Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), an unlucky runner-up to Furore in the 2019 Derby and winner of last year's G1 Stewards' Cup (1600m), was given a perfect ride by Joao Moreira, swooped in front with about a furlong to race and came away to an easy score over a game Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}). The victory was the 1300th in Hong Kong for trainer John Size, whose total is exceeded by only the retired John Moore (1735) and Tony Cruz (1329).
“It probably means I've been here a long time and I'm doing my job well,” the understated Size said, reflecting on his move from Sydney to Hong Kong two decades ago. “Every achievement along the way in your career is meaningful. I couldn't have imagined that in my wildest dreams. Obviously, it's been a good move–very good for my career–and I hope is that I can do a good job for customers.”
WATCH: Waikuku back to winning ways in Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000 (£1,107,985/€1,281,174/A$1,994,280/US$1,547,816), 3yo/up, 1400mT, 1:20.78, gd.
1–WAIKUKU (IRE), 126, g, 6, by Harbour Watch (Ire) 1st Dam: London Plane (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire) 2nd Dam: Aunt Julia (GB), by In The Wings (GB) 3rd Dam: Original (GB), by Caerleon
(€33,000 Ylg '16 TISEP). O-Jocelyn Siu Yang Hin Ting; B-Riversfield Stud; T-John Size; J-Joao Moreira; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 20-8-4-2, HK$35,843,680. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–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 (NSW); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Karis Teetan; HK$2,640,000.
3–Mighty Giant (NZ), 126, g, 5, Power (GB)–Wanderov (NZ), by Ustinov (Aus). O-Mr & Mrs Li Ming On; B-; T-Ricky Yiu; J-Neil Callan; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, NO. Odds: 11-10, 29-10, 12-1.
Also Ran: More Than This (GB), Ka Ying Star (GB), Not Usual Talent (NZ), Wishful Thinker (Aus), Buddies (Aus), Champion's Way (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
Classic Cup Thievery…
When last seen finishing seventh to Excellent Proposal (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the Hong Kong Classic Mile four weeks ago, Happy Healthy (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) endured a wide passage from the riverside draw and never truly reached contention. With Alexis Badel inheriting the ride when Vincent Ho opted for hampered Classic Mile third Tourbillon Diamond (Aus) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), Happy Healthy was allowed a soft lead and never relinquished it en route to a 21-1 boilover.
Drawn gate eight this time, the former Peter and Paul Snowden trainee when raced as Leviathan hopped out best of all and controlled the pace through an opening 1000-metre split of 1:00.40. Still allowed to amble along on the circle, he put away pace-pressing Lucky Patch (NZ) (El Roca {Aus}) in upper stretch and had enough in the locker to hold off the fast-finishing outsider Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), winner for Aidan O'Brien of last year's G3 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot, who raced with first-time blinkers Sunday. Shadow Hero (Aus) (Pierro {Aus}) ran an improved race in third. Excellent Proposal was done no favours by the lack of pace and came from well back to be a sneaky-good fourth, his final 400m of :45.57 the second-fastest in the race.
“I was just happy to let my horse go because he's obviously a very big horse and I knew he was going to stay on well,” said Badel. “He was also very relaxed in front. It allowed him to take a very big breath before the effort and then he kept on well.”
Pedigree Notes:
Healthy Happy is the 18th black-type winner for Widden Stud's Zoustar, whose other stakes winner outside of Australia is the talented Singapore galloper Top Knight (Aus). He is the only winner to date from his multiple Australian Group 3-placed dam, a daughter of SW/GSP Dashing Granada and a half-sister to MSW & GSP Celebrity Girl (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}), herself the dam of 2020 G2 Schweppes Thousand Guineas Prelude winner and G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas third Instant Celebrity (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}).
The dam of the 2-year-old colt Publicist (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}), Lady Lakshmi produced a full-sister to the latter after being led out unsold on a bid of A$300,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale. She dropped a Merchant Navy (Aus) colt in 2020 and is back in foal to Russian Revolution (Aus) on a late November cover.
WATCH: Healthy Happy leads them a merry chase in the Hong Kong Classic Cup
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong HONG KONG CLASSIC CUP-LR, HK$12,000,000 (£1,107,985/€1,281,174/A$1,994,280/US$1,547,816), NH/SH4yo, 1800mT, 1:47.21, gd.
1–HEALTHY HAPPY (AUS), 126, g, 4, by Zoustar (Aus) 1st Dam: Lady Lakshmi (Aus) (MGSP-Aus, $288,541), by Lonhro (Aus) 2nd Dam: Dashing Granada (Aus), by Keltrice (Aus) 3rd Dam: Jovan (NZ), by Nassipour 1ST STAKES WIN. (A$375,000 Ylg '18 MMGCYS). O-Sin Tung Hing, Sin Yuk Lok & Sin Yuk San; B-Lachlan River Bloodstock (Vic); T-Frankie Lor; J-Alexis Badel; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 10-5-2-1, HK$10,749,270. *Formerly Leviathan (Aus).
2–Russian Emperor (Ire), 126, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Atlantic Jewel (Aus), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). O-Mike Cheung Shun Ching; B-Coolmore, Lauri Macri & Partners; T-Douglas Whyte; J-Keith Yeung; HK$2,640,000.
3–Shadow Hero (Aus), 126, g, 4, Pierro (Aus)–Sookie (Aus), by Casino Prince (Aus). (A$260,000 Ylg '18 INGFEB). O-Edmond Lee Man Bun; B-Lightning Thoroughbreds, Mrs D Kolivos (NSW); T-David Hayes; J-Zac Purton; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: NK, NO, HF. Odds: 21-1, 79-1, 39-5.
Also Ran: Excellent Proposal (Aus), Tourbillon Diamond (Aus), Packing Waltham (Fr), Sky Darci (NZ), Lucky Express (Aus), Sea of Life (Aus), Arthur's Kingdom (Ire), Delightful Laos (Ire), Lucky Patch (NZ), Conqueror (Aus), Smiling Time (SAf). Scratched: Maximus (Ger). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.
Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) had to channel his inner Usain Bolt in Sunday's G1 Stewards' Cup at Sha Tin, as the 5-year-old sprinted his final half-mile in a mind-boggling :44.18 and final 400 metres in a staggering :21.80 to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. His record now stands at 16 starts for 15 wins and his 12th consecutive score draws him ever closer to the local record of 17 straight held by the legendary Silent Witness (Aus).
Very little went according to script. With Zac Purton steering, Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) took up his customary spot at the head of affairs, with token pressure from Mighty Giant (NZ) (Power {GB}), but there was no pace on, as Golden Sixty settled six lengths away from third-last. Though Purton had rated Ka Ying Star a treat, Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) went on the attack from the box seat at the 400 metres, just as Vincent Ho was rousing the heavy favourite into action deepest out. The 1200-metres was achieved in 1:11.15, but Ho swung out Golden Sixty deepest of all, got after his mount in earnest with a furlong and a half to race and drove past Southern Legend to repeat the finish of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile six weeks back. Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) would also have been inconvenienced by the lack of speed and was hampered in the dying strides en route to a fast-finishing fourth.
“They went pretty slow all the way, actually, so he was a little keen and he was pulling a little bit and then everyone sprint[ed] home,” Ho told the HKJC notes team. “I knew I would still get there, but it was quite close.”
Winning trainer Francis Lui suggested that Golden Sixty could return to his Hong Kong Derby-winning distance of 2000 metres for his next start in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup Feb. 24 where he could run into Horse of the Year Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).
WATCH: Golden Sixty makes it 12 in a row in a thrilling Stewards' Cup
Pedigree Notes:
Bred on the exact same cross as American Grade I winners Elate and New Money Honey and the cross over Forty Niner responsible for dual champion Songbird, Golden Sixty is one of 26 top-level winners worldwide for Medaglia d'Oro, who was represented by an exciting new 'TDN Rising Star' in the form of Prevalence at Gulfstream Park Jan. 23. Golden Sixty has an unraced 3-year-old half-brother named Rainbow Connection (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) and a yearling half-sister by Capitalist (Aus) that sold to All Winners Thoroughbreds for A$425,000 the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this month. Having missed to Medaglia d'Oro's son Astern (Aus) in 2017 and to Trapeze Artist (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) in 2020, Gaudeamus was bred to Vancouver (Aus) on a late October 2020 cover. Read more on Golden Sixty's pedigree and upbringing here.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong STEWARDS' CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000 (£1,128,669/€1,275,325/A$1,996,071/US$1,548,035), 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.35, 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 (Qld); T-Francis Lui; J-Vincent Ho; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 4yo-HK, 16-15-0-0, HK$59,685,600. *1/2 to Igitur (Aus) (Helmet {Aus}), SP-Aus. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Southern Legend (Aus), 126, g, 8, Not A Single Doubt (Aus)–Donna's Appeal (Aus), by Carnegie (Ire). (A$280,000 Ylg '13 INGEAS). O-Boniface Ho Ka Kui; B-Corumbene Stud (NSW); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Karis Teetan; HK$2,640,000.
3–Ka Ying Star (GB), 126, g, 6, Cityscape (GB)–Casual Glance (GB), by Sinndar (Ire). O-Leung Shek Kong; B-Kingsclere Stud; T-Tony Cruz; J-Zac Purton; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: HD, HF, 3/4. Odds: 1-5, 10-1, 14-1.
Also Ran: Waikuku (Ire), Rise High (Fr), More Than This (GB), Champion's Way (Aus), Mighty Giant (NZ). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
