Hong Kong superstar sixty . gold made his season debut on November 20 at Sha Tin Racecourse with coach Francis Lui becoming interested in a younger opponent.
7 years old Medaglia d’Oro gelding against six competitors in the BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (G2), the three-stakes attraction that will determine the local favorites for the Hong Kong Longines International Race on December 11th. .
Golden Sixty has twice won the Jockey Club Mile, each time en route to winning the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1). His track seems to keep him fit enough to win a trio, and he has handled his previous rival in the closed universe the Hong Kong race for most of the season.
Even so, Lui knows his horse career has an expiration date and is only 4 years old Sparkling Californiacoming in second behind Golden Sixty in the FWD Champions Mile (G1) in April, is the main threat this time around.
“California Spangle is growing,” Lui said after watching his star gallop on Nov. 16 in Sha Tin. “Golden Sixty is 7 years old so just keeping fit, while the California Spangle can improve and maybe one day it can beat my horse.
“But you never know which race.”
California Spangle wins Sha Tin Trophy Handicap at Sha Tin Racecourse
Hong Kong’s top racer, Zac Purton, will board the California Spangle and regular pilot Vincent Ho will pilot the Golden Sixty.
The rest of the field looks superior but the December race will pose new challenges with entries including several Japanese stars set to contest the Mile Championship (G1) at the Racecourse. Hanshin almost at the same time as the Sha Tin race. Irish coach Aidan O’Brien also participated Australian orders and the German duo are also on the preliminary list.
The BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (G2) is 2,000 meters (approximately 1 1/4 miles) as a preparatory step for the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1) at the same distance or for the Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1) at 2,400 meters (approx. 1 1/2 miles), without local preliminaries.
Romance Warriorwho beat the California Spangle by head in the Hong Kong BMW Derby in March, then returned to clearly beat the older rivals in the FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) a month later but since since then has not appeared in a race again.
James McDonald returned from Australia to take on horseback riding duties in the movie Warrior Romance and said he has confidence in his trainer Danny Shum’s ability to help the 4-year-old return to being young and healthy.
The Romantic Warrior (outside) overtakes the California Spangle in the Hong Kong Derby
McDonald said: “Obviously the first two thousand meters are never easy, but he certainly has class on his side as a Hong Kong Derby winner. “There’s nothing to blame, and to keep running over 2,000 metres, he has to be very progressive, and I’m sure Danny has put him right where he wants to progress in the international series. But he He’s here to run very well.I’m happy to be on top of him.
Field for Cup also includes Czar , the champion of Hong Kong after winning last season at the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1) at 2,000 meters and the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (G1) at 2,400 metres. He’s back in the Cup with a prep race that’s already in the books — albeit a unimpressive performance.
The 5-year-old could enter one of two long races in December, but whichever one, coach Douglas Whyte said he is confident.
“The writing is on the wall, and I’ve said this many times, that the second time on his campaign is usually really good and the third time is when he’s really brilliant. I sat on him. on Tuesday morning (November 15) on the pitch, and he feels really good. His action is great, that’s when he runs a good race. He’s going to run a big race but whatever he does, his main goal is December.”
Winner Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) Love Only You ends his career with a win at the Longines Hong Kong Cup 2021. This year’s entries include 54 from abroad, 15 of whom won group 1.
BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (G2) at 1,200 meters (about six long distances) attracted 14 candidates, any of whom could advance to the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1) at the same distance. way in December.
Wellington will be included in gate 7 for Sprint defending a four-race winning streak that includes a pair of Group 1 events.
With Hong Kong significantly easing pandemic-related restrictions, the Sha Tin show will begin to attract a large number of fans back to the grandstand. The Hong Kong Jockey Club, in partnership with the government, has restored its favorite scheduled December races in 2019, including a Friday night gala and race. famous international horses at Happy Valley Racecourse four days before the big races.
