Golden Sixty is widely acclaimed as Hong Kong’s best horse ever and the 8-year-old will need all of that as he seeks a third win in the Hong Kong Mile (G1) Dec. 10 at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Golden Sixty’s age, his 224 days away from the races, a formidable roster of international rivals, and some promising younger locals would add up to challenge enough. But all of that was compounded when he drew the outside 14 gate in ceremonies Dec. 7 in the track’s plush parade ring.
The Mile shares the spotlight on Hong Kong’s biggest day of racing with the Hong Kong Cup (G1), a 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4 miles) challenge; the Hong Kong Sprint (G1) at 1,200 meters (about six furlongs); and the Hong Kong Vase (G1) at 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles).
All the races are on the turf and all drew solid fields with several runners arriving from the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, others from high-class European races, and one from victory in the Cox Plate (G1) in Australia. As usual, Hong Kong and Japan have strong hands with a four-horse Coolmore contingent trained by Aidan O’Brien giving Ireland a shot at glory.
The Mile finds Golden Sixty up against several top local runners. California Spangle defeated Golden Sixty in the 2022 renewal of the Mile and Beauty Eternal and Beauty Joy finished 1-2 in the final local prep for this year’s heat, the Jockey Club Mile (G2) Nov. 19. Voyage Bubble is the reigning Hong Kong Derby champion.
Also threatening in the Mile are the 1-2 finishers from the Mile Championship (G1) at Kyoto—Namur and Soul Rush; the 2022 winner of that race, Serifos ; and Cairo , a 3-year-old who finished second to Paddington in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) early this year for O’Brien and the Coolmore “lads.”
Trainer Frances Lui acknowledged the hurdle put up by Golden Sixty’s barrier draw.
“Of course, it’s not an ideal draw and it makes things difficult for (jockey Vincent Ho),” Lui said. “Midfield with cover, of course (would be best). If you look at the field, I think California Spangle will lead and he will slow down the pace … It’s going to be difficult.”
While a challenge for sure, the draw is not a kiss of death for Golden Sixty, who normally mounts a late charge down the Sha Tin straight. And, while inside gates have produced the most recent winners, five of the last 10 victors came from double-digit stalls.
🏆Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1)
2000 m, 12.000.000 HKD, for 5yo+
🇭🇰Sha TinGolden Sixty (AUS)
(7G Medaglia D’oro – Gaudeamus, by Distorted Humor)
J :C. Y. Ho
T :K.-W. Lui
O : Stanley Chan Ka Leung
🥈 Romantic Warrior pic.twitter.com/3UqH6E5ofK— 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙𝙍𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 (@WorldRacing1) February 26, 2023
The Sprint at first glance looks like a match race between reigning local champion Wellington, who won in 2022, and Lucky Sweynesse, who was defeated as favorite in that race when caught in traffic. Lucky Sweynesse won the Jockey Club Sprint (G2) in preparation for the big day with Wellington third.
Not to be overlooked is Highfield Princess , a 6-year-old mare based in the North of England who had a phenomenal run in group 1 races in 2022, culminating in a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Keeneland. She comes off a win in the Prix de l’Abbaye (G1) in France and her connections picked Hong Kong over another Breeders’ Cup run to cap her season.
O’Brien brings Aesop’s Fables , a 3-year-old last seen finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. He needs to take a step forward to compete here.
As Golden Sixty nears the end of his glorious career, Romantic Warrior looms as the next darling of the dedicated Hong Kong fans. The 5-year-old gelding moved right along from victory in the 2022 Hong Kong Derby to multiple group 1 wins locally and endeared himself by planting the Hong Kong flag with a dramatic victory in the Cox Plate in Australia Oct. 28. He’s the likely favorite in the Cup.
Romantic Warrior’s main competition might be Luxembourg , another O’Brien charge, who in his last start finished second to Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1). Auguste Rodin went from that to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park | BloodHorse.com Track Profile”>Santa Anita Park.
The Vase, at a distance seldom contested in Hong Kong, usually is a good chance for raiders on International Day. Shahryar , third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf in November, was a solid pick until he was withdrawn on veterinary advice before the Dec. 7 barrier draw. American hopeful Soldier Rising was ruled out earlier and only nine are left in the field.
Standing out among those are O’Brien charge Warm Heart , second to Inspiral in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) Nov. 4, and Junko , a French-trained 4-year-old last seen winning the Grosser Preis von Bayern (G1) at Munich Nov. 5 for trainer Andre Fabre. West Wind Blows , representing the United Arab Emirates, also shows promise in a field that easily could produce an upset.
Asked if this year’s group is his best-ever Hong Kong contingent, O’Brien said, “I think there’s no doubt, really. You don’t come here with second-raters and win … We’re always hopeful, hopeful that they’ll win.”
Ryan Moore, recovered from a fall last month in Japan that kept him out of the Japan Cup (G1), is set to ride all of the O’Brien horses.
