With a horse population that numbers around 1200, Hong Kong proudly boasts four of the top six horses in the latest Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (WBRR), each of which will be warm items Sunday when Sha Tin Racecourse plays host to its second-biggest day of international racing annually, the FWD Champions Day program.
Of the quartet, Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) sits just behind Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) at the top of the heap and looks to make history when he goes in search of a third straight success in the G1 FWD Champions Mile. After being thwarted in one such pursuit by the re-opposing and WBRR #6 California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in December, Hong Kong's all-time leading money spinner turned the tables in the G1 Stewards' Cup in January and beat Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB})–joint-fourth in the rankings–at his best game in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) the following month. The connections of Golden Sixty passed on an attempt at desert riches in the G1 Dubai Turf in favour of the Champions Mile and there is no lack of optimism in his camp.
“I don't feel any pressure, the pressure before the race is that I hope he can win, always,” said trainer Francis Lui. “Every time we plan, we do it after the race and my future plan is another Hong Kong Mile in December.”
While Golden Sixty will be a short-priced favourite in a race that also includes G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas hero Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and BMW Hong Kong Derby hero Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), Romantic Warrior has something to prove in defence of his title in last year's G1 FWD QE II Cup over the metric mile and a quarter. Last year's Derby winner was an eye-catching in adding the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup on international day in December, but he was a battling second in the Stewards' Cup and could not sprint with Golden Sixty in the Gold Cup. Sunday's race is anything but a 'gimme', given the presence of last-out G1 Longines Queen Elizabeth S. winner Dubai Honour (GB) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}). Victorious in the G1 Ranvet S. prior to that, he was a close fourth to Japan's Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the 2021 Hong Kong Cup and is a giant threat Sunday.
The QE II Cup has gone to Japan three of the last six years and the nation sends across a typically strong contingent this weekend. Geraldina (Jpn), a daughter of former Champions Mile winner Maurice (Jpn) and fellow Japanese Horse of the Year Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), defeated her peers in Japan's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup and was a sound third to Equinox in the G1 Arima Kinen. She should strip fitter for a better-than-it-looks sixth behind Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) in the G1 Osaka Hai last time. The progressive Prognosis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was a fast-finishing winner of the G2 Kinko Sho Mar. 12 and has the services of Zac Purton, while Danon the Kid (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}) was runner-up in last year's Hong Kong Cup and exits a narrowly beaten third in the Osaka Hai.
Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) goes for back-to-back wins in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize, but will fill a supporting role against the in-form Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}), who shares fourth in the WBRR with Romantic Warrior. Disappointed for a clear run when sixth to Wellington in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, he enters this test on a four-race winning streak, a stretch that also includes the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup and G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup. Pending the results from this weekend, he could travel to Japan for the G1 Yasuda Kinen for his next appearance.
Adding a bit of intrigue to the Chairman's are Sight Success (Aus) (Magnus {Aus}) and Duke Wai (NZ) (Per Incanto), a creditable fourth and fifth, respectively, in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Mar. 25.
Japanese horses have readily left their marks at racetracks in the Middle East over the first three months of 2023, and accordingly, the nation is now home to the top-rated gallopers in the world on both turf and dirt according to the latest edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (WBRR) that was made public Thursday.
On the strength of his mesmerising front-running victory in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan Mar. 25, Silk Racing's Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) has been assigned a rating of 129, four points clear of dual Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) and five better than his compatriot Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), who made a splashy return to the races of his own with an eight-length demolition of the G2 Nikkei Sho hours before Equinox's effort in Dubai. The G1 Takarazuka Kinen in June could bring together the two Japanese rivals, while Golden Sixty is ticketed for the G1 FWD Champions Mile at Sha Tin Apr. 30.
Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) capped a Japanese three-timer at Meydan with a late-running defeat of Algiers (Ire) (Shamardal, 118) in the G1 Dubai World Cup and is rated the best dirt horse in the world on 122, sharing that spot with Hong Kong's California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and recent G1 Queen Elizabeth S. victor Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}), each of whom is also set to appear on Champions Day at Sha Tin in a bit more than two weeks.
Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) defeated California Spangle in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup last month and is a joint-fourth in the WBRR alongside fellow Hong Konger Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) on a rating of 123. Both runners also have Champions Day engagements.
The Peter Moody-trained I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) is the top Australian-based runner in the WBRR, having been given a rating of 121 and honours as the world's top-rated turf sprinter for his victory in the G1 T J Smith S. over heavy Randwick turf Apr. 1. The 4-year-old is one point clear of nine-time Group 1 winner Anamoe (Aus) (Street Boss).
Art Collector (Bernardini) remains America's top-rated horse on 121 for his GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. heroics and is just ahead of Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Elite Power (Curlin), who sits on 120 for his victory earlier this season in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint.
Golden Sister (Aus) (Capitalist {Aus}), a 3-year-old half-sister to dual Hong Kong Horse of the Year, seven-time Group 1 winner and $16-million earner Golden Sixty (Aus), will be bred to the latter's Darley America-based stallion Medaglia d'Oro to Northern Hemisphere time in 2023. The news was confirmed by Denys Chan, agent for All Winners Thoroughbreds, who purchased the filly for A$425,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2021, and Darley's Darren Fox.
Like Golden Sixty, Golden Sister was bred by the Hutchins family's Asco International Pty Ltd. and was offered by Element Hill at the Gold Coast sale a matter of weeks after Golden Sixty knocked out his first top-level victory in the Longines Hong Kong Mile. Element Hill's Josh Hutchins always held the Capitalist filly in high regard, telling TDNAusNZ, “She's probably one of the best types on our farm. She is up there with one of the best-looking foals we have had,” following Golden Sixty's win in the 2020 Hong Kong Classic Mile, four months after Golden Sister was foaled.
According to the Australian Stud Book, the bay filly was exported to the U.S. July 27, 2022–a trip that included stops in Doha, Amsterdam and Chicago–and took up residence at Dr. Naoya and Marie Yoshida's Winchester Farm in Lexington a short time later. Marie Yoshida often represents Asian interests at Australian bloodstock sales and hip 336 was very much on her radar at the Gold Coast.
“I always try to inspect many yearlings by new, young stallions and the Capitalist filly was very attractive and made my short list,” Marie Yoshida said. “I gave her an A+ for conformation and walk.”
Ironically, Marie Yoshida maintains a close relationship with the Liang family, owners of California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who denied Golden Sixty a third straight victory in the Hong Kong Mile last December.
Capitalist, a son of Written Tycoon (Aus), was named a 'TDN Rising Star' after winning in listed company on debut in October 2015 and added the G1 Longines Golden Slipper S. the following March. From just three crops of racing age, he is the sire of 10 black-type winners, four at the group level, including juvenile Group 1 winner Captivant (Aus).
Yoshida said that it took Golden Sister a few weeks to acclimatize to her new surroundings and 'make new friends', but has now settled into life in the Bluegrass as she awaits her date at Darley.
“She is average size and Medaglia d'Oro will complement her very well,” Yoshida said. “It is nice that we have plenty of experience with Southern Hemisphere fillies.”
Chan confirmed that Golden Sister will remain in the Northern Hemisphere for the immediate future.
It was billed as a clash of the titans, with Hong Kong's three highest-rated gallopers squaring off for the first time in the G1 Stewards' Cup Sunday at Sha Tin. It certainly did not disappoint.
Those who may have thought Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro)'s defeat at the hooves of California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in last month's G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile signaled the beginning of the end or a changing of the guard were reminded in no uncertain terms that the 7-year-old retains all of his zest for racing when he ran out a one-length winner. Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), whose rise to the top of the local rankings has been nothing short of meteoric and included a barnstorming win in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup on HKIR day, couldn't quite sprint with Golden Sixty, but did manage to stay on for second over an alibi-free California Spangle.
As opposed to last year's race, when Vincent Ho–by his own admission–settled Golden Sixty too far off the pace and watched a 16-race winning skein come to an inglorious halt when second to Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), the bay was asked to sit handier this time around, as California Spangle lobbed them along through an opening 800 metres in :49.12, well over a second outside standard time. Romantic Warrior and Karis Teetan were content to monitor proceedings from second and the three market leaders began to get away from their four rivals nearing the straight. Though Purton noticeably upped the tempo, Golden Sixty had him covered, and when daylight appeared one off the fence a furlong out, he made use of his quick turn of foot and went on to a victory that was fairly soft in the finish. Romantic Warrior hit a bit of a flat spot inside the final 200 metres, but managed to pick himself up late.
While COVID-19 was primarily responsible for dashing any plans to travel Golden Sixty the last couple of seasons, connections reported that they had paid up for the G1 Dubai Turf Mar. 25 with the G1 Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo in early June also a possibility. The Feb. 26 G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup and a rematch with Romantic Warrior over the latter's best trip of 2000 metres is also under consideration.
“We have to see how he pulls up and we'll discuss with the team,” Ho said. “We have entered the Dubai 1800 on turf as well, so that's another thought. I think it's a good race for him and it can be a 'prep' race for him if we go to Japan because it's left-handed and he can get used to the heat and all that.”
Ho suggested that the sometimes-feisty Golden Sixty has learned to harness his energy.
“He was very comfortable [in the run] and this year he has not pulled, so when he jumped very well, he still dropped the bit and made it even easier for me to handle him and decide what position I wanted to get,” he said. “If I wanted him to be faster, he will be and if I drop my reins, he will relax. So, when Zac picked the pace up at the half mile, [Golden Sixty] still followed through very nicely without any effort.
Gaudeamus is also the dam of the unraced 3-year-old filly Golden Sister (Aus) (Capitalist {Aus}), an A$425,000 graduate of the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale who has since been exported to America, and a yearling filly by Medaglia d'Oro's G1 Golden Slipper-winning son Vancouver (Aus). She was most recently covered by So You Think (NZ).
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong STEWARDS' CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000, Sha Tin, 1-29, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.99, gd.
1–GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS), 126, 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 Lui Kin-wai; J-Vincent Ho Chak-yiu; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 2x Horse of the Year, Ch. Middle Distance Horse & Ch. 4yo-HK, 27-23-2-1, HK$129,960,600. *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–Romantic Warrior (Ire), 126, g, 5, Acclamation (GB)–Folk Melody (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire). (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 Chap-shing; J-Karis Teetan; HK$2,640,000.
3–California Spangle (Ire), 126, g, 5, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Pearlitas Passion (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFORB). O-Howard Liang Yu Shing; B-M Enright; T-Tony Cruz; Zac Purton; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: 1, NK, 3HF. Odds: 3-2, 1-1, 29-10.
Also Ran: Waikuku (Ire), Beauty Joy (Aus), Russian Emperor (Ire), Panfield (Chi). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.
Voyage Bubble Specta-'Kah'-lar in Classic Mile…
When jockey Derek Leung opted for Sword Point (Aus) (American Pharoah) in Sunday's Hong Kong Classic Mile, trainer Ricky Yiu reached out to Mickael Barzalona to partner with Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), only to lose his services when the Frenchman was handed a suspension in Dubai. The conditioner then rang up Australia's Jamie Kah, whose first rides in Hong Kong came during last month's Longines International Jockeys' Championship, and who jetted in after five mounts Saturday at Moonee Valley in Melbourne. Let go at odds of 11-1, Voyage Bubble was given a perfectly rated ride from the front by the 26-year-old to score the upset.
Favored Packing Treadmill (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}) and Keefy (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) were the two quickest away, but Kah took advantage of her low draw and, after a bit of a tardy dispatch, sent Voyage Bubble through to lead linking up with the course proper and slowed the pace right down. Passing the half-way point in a modest :48.51, Voyage Bubble was allowed an especially easy time of things from the 800m to the 400m–covering that section in :23.29–and the duo therefore had something left for the finish, sprinting the final two furlongs in :22.78 for a straight-forward success. Tuchel (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) came on for second having sat a perfect inside trip, while Packing Treadmill kept on for third.
“I'm pretty speechless, it's been a very special day,” said Kah, riding her second winner of the day and third overall in Hong Kong after posting a victory on IJC night. “I've had such a great experience here with some beautiful horses I have ridden. I was speechless after and I got goosebumps–it's hard to make me speechless, it was a very exciting day.”
She added, “He was mapped to get a really nice, sweet run in the race and I was confident. I was just worried about him late as he has the tendency to lay in and I just thought something's going to swoop him late but he just built and built, he got stronger and stronger and probably at the 200 [-metre mark] I thought we were never in doubt–it was a really impressive win going forward.”
With the victory, Voyage Bubble becomes the 24th black-type winner for Deep Field and his second in Hong Kong, joining 2021 G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint hero Sky Field (Aus). Overall, Deep Field is the sire of 28 winners from 48 starters in Hong Kong. Voyage Bubble is out of a half-sister to Bannock (Ire) (Bertolini), winner of the Listed Rockingham S. and placed in the G2 Richmond S. and G2 July S. for Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed al Maktoum and Mark Johnston as well as Australian listed winner Moulin Lady (Aus) (Reset {Aus}). This is also the extended female family of Canadian Horse of the Year Never Retreat (Smart Strike) and Sweetest Chant.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong HONG KONG CLASSIC MILE-LR, HK$12,000,000, Sha Tin, 1-29, NH/SH4yo, 1600mT, 1:34.58, gd.
1–VOYAGE BUBBLE (AUS), 126, g, 4, by Deep Field (Aus) 1st Dam: Raheights (Aus), by Rahy 2nd Dam: Laoub, by Red Ransom 3rd Dam: Lisieux, by Steady Growth 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (A$380,000 Ylg '20 INGFEB). O-Sunshine and Moonlight Syndicate; B-Torryburn Stud (NSW); T-Ricky Yiu Poon-fai; J-Jamie Kah; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 9-4-3-1, HK$10,617,725. *1/2 to Brettan (Aus) (Commands {Aus}), SP-Aus; and Diddums (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), GSW-Aus, $164,688.
2–Tuchel (NZ), 126, g, 4, Redwood (GB)–Trista Rossa (Aus), by Testa Rossa (Aus). (NZ$130,000 Ylg '20 NZBJAN). O-Philip Chan Kwok Chung; B-G Harvey; T-John Size; J-Luke Currie; HK$2,640,000.
3–Packing Treadmill (Aus), 126, g, 4, Manhattan Rain (Aus)–I'm An Outoftowner (Aus), by Dane Shadow (Aus). (A$30,000 Wlg '19 IGLJUN). O-Exciting Racing Syndicate; B-A Beard (Vic); T-Francis Lui Kin-wai; J-Zac Purton; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1HF, 1. Odds: 10-1, 21-1, 3-1.
Also Ran: Cordyceps Six (Aus), Galaxy Witness (Aus), Sword Point (Aus), Keefy (Aus), (DH) Beautyverse (NZ), (DH) Sweet Encounter (NZ), La City Blanche (Arg), Bon's A Pearla (Aus), Viva Chaleur (Fr), Flagship Warrior (Aus), Ivy League (Ire). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.
in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic. 