Aussie bred HK superstar Golden Sixty took another step on his path toward the 2020 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races with an impressive win in the Group II Sha tin Trophy (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The Francis Lui-trained Medaglia D’Oro (USA) gelding scored his ninth straight win and his 12th from 13 starts as he comfortably despatched several of Hong Kong’s best performers of recent seasons including dual Horse of the Year Beauty Generation.
Last season’s Four-Year-Old Classic Series champion, quickened from the middle of the pack for Vincent Ho with a closing 400 metres clocked at 21.81s.
Adding further merit to his time and performance, he seemingly switched off once he hit the front as if the job was done, but a few reminders from Vincent Ho followed and he kicked on for a soft half-length win.
“He does switch off, two maybe three strides after he hits the front, he always does – that’s why he never wins by huge margins,” Ho said.
“He’s come on really well and today he settled a lot more, really well behind the gate and inside the gate, he was so relaxed and with each run his fitness is coming on.”
Golden Sixty has the impressive record of 12 wins from 13 starts and Lui will now look towards the December riches on offer in the $25 million Hong Kong Mile or the HK$28 million Hong Kong Cup, should he opt to step up to the Derby distance of 2000m again.
Golden Sixty was a $300,000 NZB Ready to Run Sale purchase for his trainer from the Riversley Park draft and was a super successful pinhook having been sourced from the Element Hill draft at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $120,000.
Golden Sixty is the best of four winners from US bred Irish Group III winner Gaudeamus (USA), a Distorted Humor mare from the family of Group I stars Bosra Sham and Hector Protector.
Gaudeamus has a yearling filly by Capitalist.
