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Golden Sixty needed all the urgings from his rider, Vincent Ho, and the 5,719 in attendance at Hong Kong's Sha Tin racecourse to secure Sunday's Group 1 FWD Champions Mile.

Recording his 14th consecutive win and fourth Group 1 in total, the world's joint top-rated miler powered into the lead rounding the home turn but was made to sweat for his win by a fast-finishing More Than This, ridden by Joao Moreira.

“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,” Ho said of Golden Sixty.

“That was amazing (to have a crowd), a big thanks to all the fans today who came out, it makes such a difference, the atmosphere and everything is so much different.

“It's been a good season, seven races for Golden Sixty and I'm happy for him to win this, hopefully he will have a break now until next season, he had a couple of tough runs these past two,” the rider said.

Japan secured a sixth win in the FWD QEII Cup with Loves Only You, also ridden by Ho, leading home a Japanese 1-2-3-4. Triple Crown-winning filly Daring Tact was second.

“I can't describe it,” Ho said, reacting to a pair of G1 successes in the space of 40 minutes.

“I don't dare to look back until the finish line but she was amazing. I'm grateful that the Japanese connections asked me to ride her.

“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.”

The connections of Loves Only You celebrate the filly's QEII win

Wellington, trained by Richard Gibson and ridden by Alexis Badel, showed an impressive turn of foot to notch his first Group 1 in the Chairman's Sprint Prize earlier on the card.

“It's fantastic to see the fans back today and I'm just delighted for the owners. They were one of the first owners in my stable when I came here. They've been very loyal and supportive and it's a great satisfaction to source and deliver such a great horse”, said Gibson.

With crowds returning in safe numbers, three fantastic Group 1 races and betting turnover hitting a record HK$1.611 billion (approx. US$207 million) for the Champions Day meeting, Hong Kong Jockey Club Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said: “It's great to have people coming back to the racecourse for a meeting of this quality. Golden Sixty kept his unbeaten record and, if you look at the performances of Loves Only You and Wellington, it was an amazing day.”

The post Golden Sixty Stretches Win Streak To 14 In Champions Mile As Sha Tin Reopens To Limited Attendance appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Keeneland has announced that William and Donna Shively's Dixiana Farm is the new sponsor of the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), the Fall Meet's prestigious invitational turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The 37th running of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana will be held Oct. 10 on the second Saturday of the Fall Meet.

“Keeneland is pleased that Dixiana has become the sponsor of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “Dixiana has been a valued corporate partner through its sponsorship of other stakes at Keeneland, and the Shivelys are enthusiastic participants in our racing and sales. We are thrilled with Dixiana's new association with such a highly regarded international event as the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.”

Dixiana is a 700-acre Thoroughbred breeding and racing operation in Lexington that dates from 1877 when it was established by Major Barack G. Thomas, considered one of the first to make a living by breeding and selling racehorses. The Shivelys purchased Dixiana in 2004 and have restored the farm while cultivating its rich legacy.

“Dixiana and Keeneland both play an iconic role in the Bluegrass and the horse industry, and we are natural partners in promoting the very best in Thoroughbred racing and breeding,” Bill Shively said. “As longtime Keeneland race sponsors, Donna and I are very excited about the opportunity to support this premier Grade 1 event.”

The Challenge Cup honors Queen Elizabeth II, an astute Thoroughbred breeder and owner who attended the races at Keeneland on Oct. 11, 1984, during her private six-day visit to Central Kentucky. That day, she watched a mock Thoroughbred sale in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, met members of the jockey colony and presented a trophy to the connections of the first winner of her namesake race, Cherry Valley Farm's Sintra, who was ridden by Keith Allen for trainer Steven Penrod.

Each year, Keeneland invites accomplished fillies from the U.S. and beyond to compete in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. Winners of the 1 1/8-mile race include champion Perfect Sting and millionaires Affluent, Dayatthespa, Film Maker, Memories of Silver, Riskaverse, Rushing Fall, Ryafan, Sweet Talker, Ticker Tape (GB) and Vacare. Last year, The Queen's Magnetic Charm (GB) competed in the race.

Keeneland's 2020 Fall Meet offers 17 days of racing from Oct. 2-24. On Nov. 6-7, Keeneland will host the Breeders' Cup World Championships for the second time.

The post Dixiana Farm To Sponsor Keeneland’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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