Fans had the race they wanted to see in the November 20 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (G2) at Sha Tin Racecourse, where the Hong Kong superstar sixty . gold long time nemesis Sparkling California in the final steps in a race, it seems he has nothing to do with winning.
The Mile is one of three stakes in a program designed to set up local horses for the Hong Kong Longines International Race on December 11. Golden Sixty and Romance Warrior in the BOCHK Jockey Club Cup are the famous winners, while lucky lucky created a slight discomfort in the BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (G2).
However, the decisive match was Golden Sixty vs. California Spangle, the two-time and two-time defending Hong Kong champ won both this prep and the December grand slam against his rising younger rival.
Everything seemed to pile up on the Golden Sixty. He hasn’t raced since beating the California Spangle two stages in the April 24 FWD Champions Mile (G1) in equal divisions. The California Spangle has two wins in the 2022-23 season, and while the Champions Mile is contested in equal weight divisions, the Jockey Club Mile found the Golden Sixty spotting its opponent five pounds.
Then, to make matters more complicated, Hong Kong’s top equestrian, Zac Purton, took the California Spangle to the top and slowed things down to a pace that would make cheap riders confused, hoping to preserve enough gas to weather the Golden Sixty’s late bid.
It didn’t matter when Vincent Ho sped up the Golden Sixty engine at the top of the lane and took the lead with the perfect timing to take the lead. It is 2 3/4 to Waikuku in third place.
“I knew the Golden Sixty was going to intend to take him down, but he was only 80 percent fit, so the last part was his mental toughness,” Ho said. “Definitely all credit to him and the team. Now we are looking forward to December.
“At first it was crawling and at the bend, I knew, around 600 (meter mark), Zac was definitely going to speed up, so I just kept an eye on what he was doing and I had to go out and do it. my action sooner,” Ho added.
Winning coach Francis Lui said: “Zac is a great jockey and he knows how to control the pace. “But I think Vincent also knows the Golden Sixty very well. He knows how to ride this horse.”
It was Golden Sixty’s 22nd win after 25 starts in Hong Kong and sealed the 7-year-old’s victory. Medaglia d’Oro prepare for their third consecutive win at the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1).
Golden Sixty trained by Francis Lui, with Vincent Ho on board, joins the Jockey Club Mile at Sha Tin Racecourse
Coach Danny Shum is getting ready for December after helming the beloved movie, Romantic Warrior and Tourbillon Diamond finished 1-2 in the BOCHK Jockey Club Cup.
Like the Golden Sixty, the reigning BMW Hong Kong Derby Romantic Warrior champions are having their first race of the season. However, just like Golden Sixty, he showed no signs of rust or lack of fitness as he won for the eighth time in nine games.
James McDonald, a 4-year-old boy, slowed down Welcome gelding took the lead in the 300 meters and easily left the field to win by a quarter of the length. Tourbillon Diamond passed between the horses to come in second, leading before the finish Senator Toba.
Shum said of the Romance Warrior: “It was really hard to decide whether to run him at 1,600 meters or 2,000 meters. “It was very difficult to fight the Golden Sixty and the California Spangle, so I talked to the owner about changing plans and running at 2,000.”
The 2,000 meter (about 1 1/4 mile) trophy is a preparation for the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1) at the same distance or the Longines Hong Kong Vase at 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles). There is no local preparation.
BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (G2) generated an exact “lucky” number. Lucky Sweynesse, with Purton’s assist, took the lead in the middle of the half and managed to hold out to win the lead from Lucky patch. Favourite, Wellingtonhad every chance at the 100 meters but stalled, finishing sixth out of 14.
Lucky Sweynesse finished second behind Wellington in the Premier Bowl (G2) in their final game. It was the first group race for Lucky Sweynesse, while Wellington is a top-tier veteran with three group 1 wins.
“I think it’s an easy win,” Purton said. “He’s done well. He’s a horse on the rise.”
