With the three best horses in Hong Kong facing off in The Stewards' Cup (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, the large crowd enjoyed a race for the ages.
As expected, The Longines Hong Kong Mile winner California Spangle (Starspangledbanner) took up the running with The Longines Hong Kong Cup winner Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) on his outside and the two-time Horse Of The Year and winningest horse in Hong Kong history, Golden Sixty (Medaglia d'Oro), third on the fence.
California Spangle (IRL) briefly dropped Romantic Warrior (IRL) on straightening, allowing Vincent Ho an out, and that is all Golden Sixty needed.
The 7yo son of Medaglia d'Oro (USA) gunned down California Spangle and held a rallying Romantic Warrior by a length with California Spangle a head back in third.
In the same race, twelve ago, Golden Sixty snapped a 16-race winning streak when defeated by Waikuku (IRE), who could do know better than fourth this time.
Trained by Francis Lui, Golden Sixty advanced his record to 23 wins, two seconds, and a third from 27 starts with earnings of approx. $23,035,556.
Lui said the Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on 26 February is possible but has not ruled out an overseas campaign with the Dubai Turf (1800m) and the Yasuda Kinen (1600m) at Tokyo Racecourse on 4 June under consideration.
“We have to see how he pulls up, and we’ll discuss it with the team," he said
" We have entered the Dubai 1800 on turf, so that’s another thought. I think it’s a good race for him, and it can be a prep race for him if we go to Japan because it’s left-handed, and he can get used to the heat.
“There are a few options for us.
A $120,000 pinhook by Riversley Park/Enigma Farm out of the Element Hill draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Golden Sixty, was purchased by his trainer for $300,000 out of the Riversley Park consignment at the 2017 NZB Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs.
He is the best of six winners from eight to race out of the imported Distorted Humor (USA) mare Gaudeamus (USA), who was purchased by Josh Hutchins Bloodstock for $160,000, on behalf of Element Hill, out of the Wood Nook Farm draft at the 2015 National Broodmare Sale. She was carrying Golden Sixty at the time.
Gaudeamus (USA) has a yearling filly by Vancouver and was covered by So You Think last spring.
Golden Sixty's Stakes performances: 1st 2023 The Stewards' Cup (Gr.1); 2022 The Fwd Champions Mile (Gr.1); 2021 The Longines Hong Kong Mile (Gr.1); 2021 The Fwd Champions Mile (Gr.1); 2021 The Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (Gr.1); 2021 The Stewards' Cup (Gr.1); 2020 The Longines Hong Kong Mile (Gr.1); 2020 The Bmw Hong Kong Derby (Gr.1); 2022 Bochk Private Wealth Jc Mile (Gr.2); 2022 The Chairman's Trophy (Gr.2); 2021 Bochk Private Wealth Jc Mile (Gr.2); 2020 The Jockey Club Mile (Gr.2); 2020 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy (Gr.2); 2020 The Celebration Cup (Hcp) (Gr.3); 2020 The Chinese Club Challenge Cup (Gr.3); 2nd 2022 The Longines Hong Kong Mile (Gr.1); 2022 The Stewards' Cup (Gr.1); 3rd 2022 The Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (Gr.1);
