Tag: Russian Emperor

Golden Sixty Named Hong Kong HOTY–Again

During a season that saw him become the richest-ever horse and most prolific winner of Group 1 races in Hong Kong history, Stanley Chan Ka Leung's Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) was named Horse of the Year in the jurisdiction for an unprecedented third straight season during a black-tie affair held Friday evening at the Grand Ballroom of the Rosewood Hotel.

The son of Gaudeamus (Distorted Humor) won four of his five trips to the post during a well-managed 7-year-old campaign, his only loss coming at the hooves of the very talented California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) when looking for a third consecutive victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in December. In one of the most anticipated races in recent memory, Golden Sixty squared off with his Mile conqueror and G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup romper Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G1 Stewards' Cup in January, a race in which Golden Sixty had a 16-race winning streak snapped in 2022. The three top-rated horses in Hong Kong had the race to themselves when push came to shove, and $2.50 (3-2) second favourite Golden Sixty proved equal to the task with a one-length defeat of $2 (evens) pick Romantic Warrior.

It was $1.50 (1-2) Romantic Warrior and $2.30 Golden Sixty in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup over a 2000-metre trip that was sure to favour Romantic Warrior. But Golden Sixty had the final say yet again, scoring by a head (video), before adding his ninth Hong Kong Group 1 tally with a third straight win in the G1 FWD Champions Mile in April (video), also securing champion miler honours. Golden Sixty, who will train on as an 8-year-old, has a record of 25-2-1 from 29 starts and earnings of nearly US$18.8 million to date.

 

 

Other luminaries to have been named Horse of the Year on multiple occasions include Silver Lining (Aus), Quicken Away (Ire), River Verdon (Ire), Fairy King Prawn (Aus), Silent Witness (Aus), Ambitious Dragon (NZ) and Beauty Generation (NZ). The first two named were also three-time Horses of the Year, but non-consecutively.

Romantic Warrior did not go home empty-handed, as his efforts were rewarded with champion middle-distance horse honours for the second straight season. He managed to bounce back from his Gold Cup effort–for which he was reportedly not 100%–to defend his title handsomely in the G1 FWD QE II Cup to lock up his championship.

But for an unlucky defeat when favoured in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) would have given Golden Sixty a tussle for Horse of the Year. As it was, the 4-year-old had a much more rigorous campaign that Golden Sixty, winning seven of his nine starts, including a maiden Group 1 in the Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) and additional elite-level successes in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m). He carried 135 pounds to victory in the G3 Sha Tin Vase H. June 4, spotting his rivals 14 to 20 pounds. With no standout horse among those that competed in the Classic series, Lucky Sweynesse was also recognized as champion 4-year-old.

 

 

Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was the only Hong Kong horse to win a race on foreign soil this season, having impressed in the HH The Amir Trophy in Qatar, but it was his victory over Romantic Warrior in his title defence in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) that secured the 6-year-old the award as champion stayer for the second year in a row.

 

 

Howdeepisyourlove (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) finished his first Hong Kong preparation with four wins from 12 starts and was named champion griffin (2- and 3-year-old horses unraced upon arrival into Hong Kong). His rating lifted from the standard debut mark of 52 to 96 by season's end. Beauty Eternal (Aus) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) saw his rating rise from 52 to 117 to be named the most improved horse. Third as the favourite in the BMW Hong Kong Derby, he closed the season with a pair of victories at Group 3 level.

Trainer John Size won a 12th Hong Kong premiership, while Zac Purton will be crowned champion jockey for the sixth time after breaking Joao Moreira's record 170 victories for a season. He currently sits on 176 heading into Sunday's final meeting of the season, 82 clear of Vincent Ho, who received the Tony Cruz Award as leading homegrown jockey. Purton also became the second rider in history to register better than 1600 winners in Hong Kong, joining Russian Emperor's trainer Douglas Whyte.

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‘Emperor’ Outbattles ‘Warrior’ In Champions and Chater Cup

Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has been campaigned ambitiously this season, with stops in Doha and Dubai, but the 6-year-old saved his best for last, running down heavily favoured Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) to successfully defend his title in Sunday's G1 Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup, the last of 12 Group 1 events on the annual Hong Kong racing calendar. Longshot Five G Patch (Ire) (Camelot {GB})–a two-time winner from two runs for Joseph O'Brien when racing as Collins Street (Ire)–went a massive race to be third in spite of a rating some 30 pounds inferior to the winner.

Money Catcher (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}) mapped as the chief speed of the Champions and Chater, but when Derek Leung elected not to go on with it, Zac Purton was left no option but to make the running with Romantic Warrior, trying 12 furlongs for the first time having won the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup and G1 FWD QE II Cup over a mile and a quarter this term. Romantic Warrior can get fired up in his races, but he settled kindly enough and took them past halfway in 1:15.51, just outside standard clocking of 1:15.15.

While Money Catcher ensured that Romantic Warrior would not get loose on the lead, Russian Emperor was ridden back in the field by Hugh Bowman, knowing full well that his mount's best asset was his ability to run a strong 2400 metres, while the distance was the potential fly in the ointment for Romantic Warrior. Purton upped the tempo a bit on the final turn and Romantic Warrior gave a good response when asked for a sprint in upper stretch. As late as 150 metres from home, it appeared he'd left the others too much to do, but Russian Emperor ultimately called upon his superior stamina and was along late to join the likes of River Verdon (Ire), Indigenous (Ire), Viva Pataca (GB) and Exultant (Ire) as back-to-back winners of the race.

Russian Emperor became the first overseas runner for trainer Douglas Whyte when saluting in the Listed H. H. The Amir Trophy in Qatar in February and he was a highly creditable fifth in the G1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan over an insufficient 1800 metres the following month. Eighth to Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic Mar. 25, Russian Emperor carried 135 pounds to a running-on sixth behind Straight Arron (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup over track and distance May 7.

“He's a superstar of my stable and he's certainly given me one hell of a ride since he's joined me,” Whyte said of the 2020 G3 Hampton Court S. hero. “We've had our ups and downs but there's been a lot more ups than downs. To travel with him and winning in Doha, and coming back now to repeat that effort on a firm track. You've just got to give it all to the horse. When he won in Doha, that was probably the highlight of my career, both as a jockey and a trainer, to go abroad and do that.”

The beaten favourite gave it his all in his jockey's view.

“[Romantic Warrior] showed today it's [2400m] not his favourite distance, but he tried bloody hard–he was gone at the 600m,” Purton said. “Coming into the straight, Money Catcher actually headed me and I thought he was going to drop out, and to his credit, he tried as hard as he could. It was just not his distance.”

Russian Emperor's champion and four-time Group 1-winning dam sadly passed away days after foaling a colt by Justify in August 2020. The soon-to-be 3-year-old, an A$240,000 Inglis Easter yearling named Maravillas (Aus), is currently spelling for trainer Annabel Neasham.

 

 

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
STANDARD CHARTERED CHAMPIONS AND CHATER CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000, Sha Tin, 5-28, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:26.87, gd.
1–RUSSIAN EMPEROR (IRE), 126, g, 6, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Atlantic Jewel (Aus) (Ch. 3yo Filly, Ch. Older Mare & MG1SW-Aus, $1,559,748), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: Regard (Aus), by Zabeel (NZ)
3rd Dam: Nanshan (Ire), by Nashwan
O-Mike Cheung Shun Ching; B-Coolmore, Lauri Macri & Partners; T-Douglas Whyte; J-Hugh Bowman; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. Stayer-HK, GSW-Eng, SW-Qat, GSP-Ire, 29-6-4-3, HK$48,597,258. Werk Nick Rating: A. 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; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,640,000.
3–Five G Patch (Ire), 126, g, 5, Camelot (GB)–Uliana, by Darshaan (GB). O-Lam Wai Ying; B-Newstead Breeding; T-Tony Cruz A S; J-Alexis Badel; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: NK, 1, NO. Odds: 83-10, 1-5, 44-1.
Also Ran: Straight Arron (Aus), Money Catcher (NZ), Panfield (Chi), Senor Toba (Aus), Natural Storm (NZ), Columbus County (NZ). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.

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Sweet Success For Sanna, Whyte In Amir Trophy

Alberto Sanna had twice previously won Qatar's biggest and richest race, the HH The Amir Trophy, but he could not contain his emotions after putting a perfect steer on former Ballydoyle inmate and now Hong Kong-based Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to take Saturday's US$2.5-million event in Doha.

Sanna was himself part of the ultra-competitive collection of riders in Hong Kong for two seasons, but managed a strike rate of just 4.6%. To make matters worse, he was handed a 10-meeting suspension in late 2019 and his Hong Kong license was stripped not long after winning in Group 3 company.

“For nine months after that I didn't ride, I didn't even think about horses,” Sanna recently told Asian Racing Report's David Morgan. “I became heavy, I think I was 72 kilos (158 pounds) and it was the time of Covid. I was quite depressed because I had given my whole self to doing well in Hong Kong and I got cut off at the wrong time: I was doing well, I was fit. I had ridden nine winners by the beginning of November, so I was winning, I won the Ladies' Purse, I was doing alright.”

Since then, Sanna has experienced a renaissance in the desert, as he has been at or near the top of the local jockeys' standings, and it was a no-brainer for Douglas Whyte, the former legendary jockey turned successful trainer, to book Sanna for the Amir Trophy.

“It's the first time I've travelled a horse abroad,” the 'Durban Demon' told Gina Bryce following the victory. “I'm only new to the training ranks, but [Russian Emperor's] a special horse for me. I've won two Group 1 races with him in Hong Kong, and I thought he was the right horse to travel with temperament wise. I must say he's really blossomed since he's landed in Qatar.”

Settled towards the rear with only two rivals behind for the opening 1800-metres, Sanna swung the 6-year-old out into the clear approaching the stretch and appeared to be going ominously well. He tanked to the front with a furlong to travel and had enough in the dying strides to hold off the progressive Warren Point (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), an impressive winner in listed company in Bahrain earlier this month, who was locked away at a crucial stage and attacked the line to just miss. Commonly owned stablemates Bolthole (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) and Inverness (Ire) (Highland Reel {Ire}) rounded out the minors.

Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) attended the pace before weakening into fifth, while Hong Kong's Senor Toba (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) finished a midfield seventh for former local champion jockey Harry Bentley. Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) failed to land a blow and trailed in.

Russian Emperor, winner of Royal Ascot's G3 Hampton Court S., was a narrowly beaten second in the 2021 BMW Hong Kong Derby and had since won the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup over 10 furlongs and the G1 Champions and Chater Cup going Saturday's trip. He  holds an entry for the G1 Longines Sheema Classic at Meydan Mar. 25. The gelding is one of two winners out of his champion four-time Group 1 winning dam, who died in August 2020 just days after foaling a Justify colt now named Marvillas (Aus), an A$240,000 Inglis Easter yearling purchase who is currently spelling for trainer Annabel Neasham.

In the afternoon's other marquee events, Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) was given a perfect ride from the front by Ryan Moore to scoop the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup (1600m); the John and Thady Gosden-trained Alzahir (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) outfinished the filly Kerindia (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) in the age-restricted Al Rayyan Mile; and Flaming Rib (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) outdueled two-time defending champion Taxiwala (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) with Oisin Murphy at the controls in the Dukhan Sprint.

Saturday's Results:
HH THE AMIR TROPHY (Qat-G1)-Listed, $2,500,000, Al Rayyan, 2-18, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:25.46, gd.
1–RUSSIAN EMPEROR (IRE), 128, g, 6, Galileo (Ire)–Atlantic Jewel (Aus) (Ch. 3yo Filly, Ch. Older Mare & MG1SW-Aus, $1,559,748), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). O-Mike Cheung Shun Ching; B-Coolmore, Lauri Macri & Partners; T-Douglas Whyte; J-Alberto Sanna; $1,425,000. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-HK, GSW-Eng, GSP-Ire, 25-5-4-3, $5,273,661.
2–Warren Point (GB), 126, g, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Gaterie, by Dubai Destination. O/B-Godolphin; T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buic; $550,000.
3–Bolthole (Ire), 126, c, 4, Free Eagle (Ire)–Weekend Getaway (Ire), by Acclamation (GB). (€12,000 Ylg '20 GOFFEB; 19,000gns RNA Ylg '20 TATOCT; 130,000gns HRA '22 TATAUT). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Patrick M Ryan; T-Alban de Mieulle; J-Ronan Thomas; $275,000.
Margins: HF, HF, SHD.
Also Ran: Inverness (Ire), Broome (Ire), Mutabahi (Fr), Senor Toba (Aus), Romagna Mia (GB), Riocorvo (Ger), In The Night (Ire), Hellenistique (Ire), Stone Age (Ire).

 

 

IRISH THOROUGHBRED MARKETING CUP (Qat-G2, NBT), $500,000, Al Rayyan, 2-18, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.86, gd.
1–ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (IRE), 128, h, 6, Australia (GB)–Senta's Dream (GB), by Danehill. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Mrs A M O'Brien; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore; $285,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo & 4yo-Ire at 7-9.5f, GISW-US, MGSW-Ire, MG1SP-Fr, G1SP-Eng, $2,255,516. *1/2 to Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of The World {Ire}), MG1SW-Ire, G1SW-Eng, GISW-US, $1,988,198; and Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), MGISW-US, G1SP-Ire, $731,938.
2–Band Width (Ire), 128, g, 4, Gutaifan (Ire)–Party Whip (Ire), by Whipper. (£22,000 Ylg '20 GOFSEP; 60,000gns HRA '22 TATAUT). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Bridgetown Stud; T-Alban de Mieulle; J-Mickael Barzalona; $110,000.
3–Conflict (Ire), 128, c, 4, No Nay Never–Sound of Guns (GB), by Acclamation (GB). (90,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT; €255,200 2yo '21 ARQMAY; £52,500 HRA '22 TATAUG). O-51 East Racing; B-Ballylinch Stud; T-Wasim Al Sahn; J-Maxime Guyon; $55,000.
Margins: HF, HD, HF.

 

 

AL RAYYAN MILE (Qat-G2, NBT), $400,000, Al Rayyan, 2-18, 3yo, 1600mT, 1:33.83, gd.
1–ALZAHIR (FR), 128, g, 3, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Cup Cake (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire). (200,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Al Wasmiyah Stud, G Bailey, N Wrigley; B-Al Wasmiyah Stud; T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Andrea Atzeni; $228,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0, $234,758. *1/2 to Suedois (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), GISW-US, GSW & G1SP-Eng & Fr, GSW-Ire, SP-UAE, $1,983,778; and Kadapul (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Hwt. Older Mare-Qat.
2–Kerindia (Ire), 123, f, 3, Cotai Glory (GB)–Coursing (GB), by Kyllachy (GB). (£24,000 Ylg '21 TATSEP; 65,000gns 2yo '22 TATAPR; 145,000 2yo '22 TATNOV). O-Injaaz Stud; B-Rossenarra Stud; T-Zuhair Mohsen; J-Jim Crowley; $88,000.
3–Ocean Vision (Ire), 128, c, 3, U S Navy Flag–Balaagha, by Mr. Greeley. O-J Kirkland & Mrs G Ryan; B-Mighty Universe Limited; T-Tim Donworth; J-Maxime Guyon; $44,000.
Margins: HD, 3/4, 3/4. VIDEO

 

 

DUKHAN SPRINT (Sponsored by Breeders' Cup) (Qat-G3, NBT), $400,000, Al Rayyan, 2-18, 3yo, 1200mT, 1:08.56, gd.
1–FLAMING RIB (IRE), 128, c, 4, Ribchester (Ire)–Suddenly (Ger), by Excelebration (Ire). (€40,000 Wlg '19 GOFNOV; 25,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Dale Dolan Dooley Owen; B-Kildaragh Stud; T-Hugo Palmer; J-Oisin Murphy; $228,000. Lifetime Record: SW & G1SP-Eng, 17-7-3-2, $554,275.
2–Taxiwala (Ire), 128, g, 6, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)–It's True (Ire), by Kheleyf. (€105,000 Wlg '17 GOFNOV; 50,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT; 10,000gns HRA '19 TATAUT). O-Eng Osama Omer E Al-Fafea; B-River Downs Stud; T-Osama Al-Dafea; J-Ronan Thomas; $88,000.
3–Monsieur Noir (GB), 128, g, 7, Shamardal–Night Frolic (GB), by Night Shift. (500,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT; 75,000gns HRA '19 TATAUT). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Highclere Stud & Floors Farming; T-Alban de Mieulle; J-Mickael Barzalona; $44,000.
Margins: 3/4, 2 HF. VIDEO

 

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Golden Sixty Repeats As Hong Kong HOTY

Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) joined the likes of Hong Kong legends Fairy King Prawn (Aus), Silent Witness (Aus), Ambitious Dragon (NZ) and Beauty Generation (NZ) in being named Horse of the Year in Hong Kong for the second consecutive season during ceremonies held Friday evening at the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Happy Valley Clubhouse.

The 6-year-old won his first two starts of the year, including a facile defence of his title in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in December, but suffered just the second loss of his career in the G1 Stewards' Cup in January when attempting to equal Silent Witness's record of 17 consecutive victories in Hong Kong. Only third when tried over the 10 furlongs of the G1 City Hong Kong Gold Cup, he was back to winning ways over his best trip in the G2 Chairman's Trophy in April and a second straight success in the G1 Champions Mile in May.

Trained by Francis Lui and the mount of Vincent Ho, Golden Sixty, who was also named champion miler and most popular horse, has amassed record Hong Kong earnings of better than HK$113 million (US$14.4 million), with 21 wins from 24 trips to the post.

 

WATCH: Golden Sixty repeats in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile

 

In a world without Golden Sixty, 4-year-old Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) would be a slam-dunk for Horse of the Year, but nonetheless was named champion of this year's Classic crop on the strength of victories in the Hong Kong Classic Mile and BMW Hong Kong Derby before stamping his authority on the G1 FWD QE II Cup in April. The Hong Kong International Sale graduate was also the most improved horse in the jurisdiction, having risen from the standard debut mark of 52 to a season-ending 122, and also took down honours as top middle-distance galloper as well.

Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), third in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup and in the Stewards' Cup, ran out an easy 4 1/4-length winner of the Gold Cup and added the final Group 1 of the season–the Champions and Chater Cup over 2400 metres–to be named champion stayer. The former G3 Hampton Court S. hero is the 17th worldwide champion for the legendary Galileo.

By virtue of tallies in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m), Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) earned champion sprinter honours, while the progressive Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) was named champion griffin for a season that has thus far yielded four wins from six runs. The 3-year-old is declared for the Class 3 Joy and Fun H. (1200m) on Saturday's final program of the year at Sha Tin.

Zac Purton, who enters Saturday's finale in a tie with Joao Moreira on 132 riding victories, was named most popular jockey by public vote.

 

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