Australian bred Medaglia D’Oro (USA) gelding Golden Sixty, Hong Kong’s latest racing sensation, continued his seemingly inexorable march to December and Group I glory with his tenth consecutive win in the HK$4.5 million Group II Jockey Club Mile (1600m).
It was a win which came with such authority that even the prospect of stiffer international competition, in next month’s HK$25 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, may not be enough to end the winning streak of the Francis Lui-trained and Vincent Ho-ridden five-year-old.
Golden Sixty recorded his 13th win from 14 starts and became just the fourth horse to win 10 consecutive races in Hong Kong, emulating greats Silent Witness, Beauty Generation and Co-Tack.
Victory in the 13 December showpiece would see him eclipse Beauty Generation and Co-Tack whose winning runs came to an end at ten straight.
Silent Witness’ 17 consecutive victories may be a distant and near untouchable target, but Golden Sixty has made a habit of making history – being just the second horse to sweep Hong Kong’s Four-Year-Old Classic Series and the first to win the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) for all local connections since Hong Kong racing turned professional.
He powered clear top win by a length and a half in a dominant display.
“He felt really good and sprinted home really well,” Ho said, “the main goal was to settle him as normal and to relax him and he hit the line strongly. He will always produce a really good last quarter. I was happy with how he raced, he’s getting quieter and he knows what’s going on now.
“He’s more mentally mature and he’s a really professional horse now. He’s getting quieter behind the gate, just looking around, taking it in. I just wanted to get him settled first of all, I knew there’d be some pace on which will suit him.
“Actually I think at the moment he’s one of the best horses in Hong Kong. That’s for sure. He’ll be competing at Group 1 now and hopefully we will be winning next month. That was our main goal and main target from last season and these three races have been really good prep (preparation) for him. He’s got stronger each race and I’m really happy with how those races panned out for him.”
His trainer believes Golden Sixty has matured since his four-year-old season and is hopeful he will measure up to his next assignment.
“I felt nervous before the race but, of course, passed the winning post everything was all right. I feel very happy that the horse can perform so well,” said Francis Lui, whose intention is to run in December’s Hong Kong Mile, although the horse also has a Hong Kong Cup entry.
“You can see he’s more relaxed and more mature now. At the moment he looks like a champion but we’ll see what form the international horses bring.”
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 that will be offered by Element Hill as Lot 336.
She has been covered this spring by Medaglia D’Oro’s Golden Slipper winning son Vancouver so will produce a three-quarter sibling to Golden Sixty next year.
