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An ‘Underdog’ Yet Again, Golden Sixty Claims Second HK Gold Cup

For the third time in four starts this season, this time in Sunday's G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) jumped at a quote of even-money or better, not insignificant given that his highest starting price in his 14 appearances prior to that was $1.80 (4-5).

That he offered his backers $2.30 was only logical, as he was facing off with Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), perfect in four starts over the course and 2000-metre distance, which was supposed to be the great equaliser and level the playing field. Romantic Warrior, off as the $1.50 jolly Sunday, got first run and turned for home with every conceivable chance, but Golden Sixty was all guts when push came to shove and was home a head to the good to win for the 24th time from 28 starts, including a narrow success in this event two years ago.

Sunday's game plan was a pretty straight-forward one–don't let Romantic Warrior out of your sights–and Vincent Ho followed those instructions to the letter, even having to get after Golden Sixty through demanding middle sectionals. Karis Teetan aboard the favourite tried to win the race 600 metres from home and the duo struck to the lead, even as Golden Sixty was poised to tackle him. While his customary turn of acceleration was noticeably and understandably less electric given the distance of the Gold Cup, Golden Sixty continued to knuckle down and grabbed Romantic Warrior a handful of strides before the winning post. Money Catcher (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}) made the running into the straight and held gamely for third.

“He was very relaxed today, I even had to ask him a little to keep up today in the back straight and, of course, I had another great horse to follow through and ask for the full effort at the 200- [metre mark],” said Ho. “I just had to stay close with him and don't let him get away too far.”

Ho added, “To be honest, I expected the other horse would have beaten us but, of course, I just do my best on Golden Sixty without hurting him too much for the Champions Mile or if we go to Japan, so it's going to take time for him to recover, aged seven now. I just don't want to overdo it, but doing my best to [help him] perform at that level.”

It was an eighth Group 1 conquest for Golden Sixty, equaling the number achieved by Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock {Aus}) and his earnings now exceed an eye-watering HK$136 million. Next up could be the G2 Chairman's Trophy back over a mile on Apr. 9 into either the G1 Champions' Mile or the G1 FWD QE II Cup (2000m) Apr. 30. Though the G1 Yasuda Kinen in early June remains an option, Golden Sixty remains an outside chance to shoot for the older horse Triple Crown in the G1 Champions and Chater Cup over 12 furlongs May 28.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
CITI HONG KONG GOLD CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000, Sha Tin, 2-26, 2000mT, 1:59.98, gd/fm.
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 '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, 28-24-2-1, HK$136,530,600. *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–Money Catcher (NZ), 126, g, 5, Ferlax (NZ)–Warren's Sister (NZ), by Savabeel (Aus). (NZ$13,000 Wlg '18 NZBMAY; NZ$60,000 2yo '19 NZBRTR). O-The Sunflower Syndicate; B-Haunui Bloodstock Ltd; T-Frankie Lor Fu-chuen; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: HD, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 13-10, 1-2, 45-1.
Also Ran: Glorious Dragon (Ire), Panfield (Chi), Tourbillon Diamond (Aus), Ka Ying Star (GB). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.

So-Ho Team To Take Out the Classic Cup

Trainer Chris So celebrated the most important victory of his career when Super Sunny Sing (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}), ridden by Ho about 70 minutes after the Gold Cup, swept past Sword Point (Aus) (American Pharoah) in the dying stages to scoop the Hong Kong Classic Cup, the final local lead-up to the BMW Hong Kong Derby three weeks down the road.

Settled with about four rivals behind as Sword Point dropped over from his high draw to apply some pressure to all-the-way Classic Mile winner Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) and Jamie Kah, the 12-5 favourite was swung out wide and into the clear approaching the stretch. Sword Point, Group 2-placed in Australia for Chris Waller, claimed Voyage Bubble with about a furlong to race, but Super Sunny Sing was motoring home down the centre of the track and did his best running through the line with a final 400 metres in a slick :22.70. Galaxy Witness (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) earned a photo for third over Classic Mile runner-up Tuchel (NZ) (Redwood {GB}).

Super Sunny Sing is reportedly the first to win the Classic Cup while making his Classic series debut since the legendary Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) a dozen years ago.

“To get a horse to win this race makes me very happy and it relieves a lot of pressure now,” said So, who was an assistant to Caspar Fownes before going out on his own in 2013. “Today has proven that he should handle further distance, but let's see how he pulls up–if he's sound and happy, we target the Derby. We won't change too much on the programme and just keep him happy.”

A 26th stakes winner for Nicconi and first in Hong Kong, Super Sunny Sing was purchased by John Foote Bloodstock for A$48,000 at the 2020 Inglis Classic Sale. Foote also bought Galaxy Witness for A$160,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale that year. Red Centre's last listed produce is the 3-year-old Press Statement (Aus) filly Altrove (Aus), odds-on winner of a Class 1 handicap at Albury Feb. 2 and runner-up in a Class 2 this past Saturday.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
HONG KONG CLASSIC CUP-LR, HK$12,000,000, Sha Tin, 2-26, NH/SH4yo, 1800mT, 1:46.26, gd/fm.
1–SUPER SUNNY SING (AUS), 126, g, 4, by Nicconi (Aus)
1st Dam: Red Centre (Aus), by Rubiton (Aus)
2nd Dam: Land of Dreams (Aus), by Kenvain (Aus)
3rd Dam: Holograph (Aus), by Bletchingly (Aus)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (A$48,000 Ylg '20 INGFEB). O-Janice Wong Oi Ying; B-Miss J Henderson, Etak Thoroughbreds (NSW); T-Chris So Way-yin; J-Vincent Ho Chak-yiu; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 9-5-1-1, HK$10,908,900. *Formerly Axe Atkins (Aus). **1/2 to Too Many Reds (Aus) (Magic Albert {Aus}), MSP-Aus, $293,613.
2–Sword Point (Aus), 126, g, 4, American Pharoah–Jazz Song (Aus), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). (A$750,000 Ylg '20 MMGCYS). O-Li Chi Pong; B-Morning Rise Stud (Vic); T-Frankie Lor Fu-chuen; J-Hugh Bowman; HK$2,640,000.
3–Galaxy Witness (Aus), 126, g, 4, Star Witness (Aus)–Black Tulip (Aus), by Lonhro (Aus). (A$160,000 Ylg '20 MMGCYS). O-Winnie Law Wing Yin; B-Bird Rock Thoroughbreds (Vic); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Blake Shinn; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: HF, 2 1/4, NO. Odds: 12-5, 9-1, 17-1.
Also Ran: Tuchel (NZ), Flagship Warrior (Aus), Voyage Bubble (Aus), Bon's A Pearla (Aus), Sinba (Aus), Majestic Colour (Aus), La City Blanche (Arg), Sweet Encounter (NZ), Encounterd (Ire), Keefy (Aus), Beautyverse (NZ). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.

The post An ‘Underdog’ Yet Again, Golden Sixty Claims Second HK Gold Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Romantic Warrior Leads Irish-Bred 1-2 in Hong Kong Derby

by Alan Carasso

In a finish reminiscent of the 2014 BMW Hong Kong Derby, in which the longer-winded Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) got the better the more distance-limited Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) in the dying strides, Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) managed to reel in a very brave California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) to win the HK$24-million domestic centrepiece Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin Racecourse. Money Catcher (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}), thrice placed at group level in New Zealand, parlayed a perfect inside trip into a third-place finish.

The speedy California Spangle, who was trying the metric mile and a quarter for the first time off a front-running tally in the Hong Kong Classic Cup over a furlong shorter last time, pinged the gates from stall 10 and did some work to cross down onto the fence, but settled nicely from there as they turned down the back. S J Tourbillon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) raced closest to the leader passing the 1200-metre point, while Money Catcher was allowed to drop in and Karis Teetan had the second-elect Romantic Warrior midfield and between horses at halfway.

Rocket Spade (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), the 2021 G1 New Zealand Derby hero, loomed three wide outside of the pacemaker with three furlongs to race, but California Spangle was still going reasonably well and was the first to face the judge. Steered out into about the four path, the favourite was awkward for a stride or two, still in command, but Romantic Warrior was finding his best stride as he went on the attack outside of Mr Ascendancy (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}). Money Catcher boxed on further towards the inside, but the two Irish-breds came to settle it, with Romantic Warrior doing slightly the better work through the line. He is the first Northern Hemisphere-bred Derby winner since the aforementioned future Horse of the Year and four-times Group 1 winner Designs On Rome and is a first Derby winner for Teetan and trainer Danny Shum.

“He travelled a bit the first turn,” said the Mauritian. “I had a nice trail through until the straight and I must say I thought 'God, Zac's horse is going to be hard to get past.' This horse is a little horse, but he's got a big heart and I'm really thankful to everyone–the owner, Danny and his team.”

Shum, who saddled Playa del Puente (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) to a near-shocking defeat of Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in 2020, added: “He [Romantic Warrior] deserved to win the Derby, he is a very honest horse and very consistent. Karis did a great job, so I'm very happy. The second horse, California Spangle, also ran very good. The pace was strong and he was still fighting on the line.”

Shum said that the G1 FWD QE II Cup is next on the agenda for Romantic Warrior, a decision surely made easier given that there will be no invitees from overseas due to the pandemic. Tony Cruz will also target FWD Champions Day with California Spangle.

Romantic Warrior was perfect in his first four starts–two in Class 4 at Happy Valley and a pair in Class 3 at Sha Tin–before dashing home to best California Spangle–who was ultimately done in by his widest draw–in the Hong Kong Classic Mile Jan. 30. Roles were reversed in the Classic Cup, as Romantic Warrior was never on the track from barrier 13, while California Spangle dictated terms from a low gate and easily accounted for Turin Redsun (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), with Romantic Warrior a gallant third.

Pedigree Notes:

Romantic Warrior was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for 300,000gns from the draft of David and Henrietta Egan's Corduff Stud at Tattersalls October in 2019 by a team headed up by legendary former jockey Mick Kinane and was prepared for the 2021 Hong Kong International Sale, postponed to June by the pandemic, but for many years held on the eve of the Derby. It was the only of the sale entries that Shum recommended to owner Peter Lau, who went to HK$4.8 million (£444,729/€517,894) for the gelding.

“I would like to thank the Hong Kong Jockey Club as well for bringing this horse into the International Sale,” Shum said. “Actually, the CEO [Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges] also said to me in the stable 'This is the right one', so we picked the same horse.

“Thank you to the owner Peter Lau for really supporting the ISG Sale. He always says, 'You can buy me a good horse, but don't buy me the wrong horse.'”

Other prominent graduates of the Hong Kong International Sale include three-time G1 Hong Kong Mile hero Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan), Mile hero The Duke (Aus) (Danehill) and 'TDN Rising Star' and multiple Group 1 winner Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal), the 2017 Derby runner-up.

Romantic Warrior 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. With the Dubai World Cup meeting straight ahead, it is interesting to note that the sires of Romantic Warrior's first two dams each has a World Cup to their credit–Street Cry in 2002 and Singspiel in the weather-delayed second running of the race in 1997.

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
BMW HONG KONG DERBY-LR, HK$24,000,000 (£2,326,771/€2,772,061/A$4,131,331/US$3,067,112), Sha Tin, 3-20, NH/SH4yo, 2000mT, 2:00.23, 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
(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$13,680,000. Lifetime Record: 7-6-0-0, HK$24,815,400.
2–California Spangle (Ire), 126, 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 Cruz A S; J-Zac Purton; HK$5,280,000.
3–Money Catcher (NZ), 126, g, 4, Ferlax (NZ)–Warren's Sister (NZ), by Savabeel (Aus). (NZ$13,000 Wlg '18 NZBMAY; NZ$60,000 2yo '19 NZBRTR). O-The Sunflower Syndicate; B-Haunui Bloodstock Ltd; T-Frankie Lor F C; J-Derek Leung K C; HK$2,400,000.
Margins: HD, 2 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 27-10, 7-5, 34-1.
Also Ran: Senor Toba (Aus), The Irishman (NZ), Turin Redsun (GB), Crossford (Ire), Fa Fa (NZ), Nordic Sky (Brz), Champion Dragon (Ire), Ima Single Man (Aus), Mr Ascendancy (Ire), Rocket Spade (Aus), S J Tourbillon (Ire). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.

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Diabolical Derby Draw for California Spangle

The connections of the speedy California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) were hardly doing cartwheels after their Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner was assigned gate 10 in a full field of 14 for Sunday's HK$24-million BMW Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin Racecourse.

The winner of six of his eight local starts, California Spangle made all in the Feb. 27 Classic Cup, having endured a tough trip when second to Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the Hong Kong Classic Mile back in January. But jockey Zac Purton admits that the 10 hole is not exactly what the team had in mind.

“Unfortunately, we have a number of speed runners drawn inside us who are no doubt going to try and hold their positions,” Purton said. “If I fire him out of the gate from 10 at this start to get across, maybe it gives him that signal it's time to go and he might see that corner and think he's in a 1200-metre race. It could go horribly bad for us, it's a horrible draw for us– but it is what it is.”

Roles were reversed in the Classic Cup, when Romantic Warrior was trapped out deep from a double-digit draw for the entire trip and finished a brave fourth. The Hong Kong International Sale grad fared better this time around in pulling gate eight.

“Last time he did cover a lot of ground, he was the widest horse for the whole race and he still finished off nicely so this time we are in the middle of the track,” said jockey Karis Teetan. “So if we can get a good jump and get him in a decent position, I think he should run the distance no problem and I think he will show us his nice turn of foot this time.”

A course-and-distance winner–a rare commodity in this field–Senor Toba (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) gets the blinkers on for the first time from gate three. Trainer Caspar Fownes believes the gray can improve on his running-on fifth in the Classic Cup from barrier three, which has produced four Derby winners since 2000.

“We'll always take the stats if they're in our favour and if they're not in our favour, we'll try to change them,” Fownes said. “The horse is going to have the blinkers on for the first time, we took him to the gates this morning, he's starting to know how to jump better and know what we want of him.”

The Hong Kong Derby is carded as the eighth of 10 races Sunday at Sha Tin and jumps at 4.40pm local time (9.40am BST).

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Romantic Warrior Shoots For Six Straight In Classic Cup

European-sourced Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) has answered every question that has been asked of him in his five racetrack appearances to date and will look to keep the ball rolling as the horse to beat in Sunday's HK$12-million Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse.

A 300,000gns purchase by the Hong Kong Jockey Club at Tattersalls October in 2019 and later re-sold for HK$4.8 million at the unique Hong Kong International Sale, Romantic Warrior annexed his first three starts, each over six furlongs, and proved easily best when trying 1400 metres for the first time Jan. 16. The third choice for the Hong Kong Classic Mile a fortnight later, the bay worked out a good trip with Karis Teetan aboard for the first time and ran past long-time leader California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) for a half-length tally. He'll need to negotiate another 200 metres this time, but he has the full confidence of his jockey.

“Of course, it is in the back of our minds that he is stepping up in distance again but he's a progressive horse–I galloped him on Saturday [19 February] and he went really well, he is in good shape and I think the distance will be ok, because he can relax and he has a nice turn of foot,” the Mauritian said.

California Spangle was tasting defeat for just the second time in the Classic Mile, just failing to last after setting a decent pace. Matthew Chadwick was in the irons on the final Sunday of January, but Zac Purton–who is back on top of the jockeys' premiership–takes over this time around for trainer Tony Cruz.

The Irishman (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) tracked Romantic Warrior through in the Classic Mile and stayed on well enough to be third, with longshot Turin Redstar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) a further 1 3/4 lengths back in fourth. Twice placed at group level in Australia, the bay is bred on the cross over Zabeel (NZ) responsible for former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther (NZ) and should have no queries where it comes to this trip and beyond.

Senor Toba (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) has acquitted himself nicely in the deep Class 2 waters locally, having finished third going a mile on International Day Dec. 12 before scoring over the Derby distance of 2000 metres Dec. 27. He was scratched lame out of an intended start Feb. 3, but whatever he does here should bring him on for the BMW Hong Kong Derby in a month's time.

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