LUI IS HAPPY WITH GOLDEN SIXTY AS ANOTHER BIG SEASON BECKONS FOR HONG KONG'S HORSE OF THE YEAR

By Hong Kong Jockey Club (Declan Schuster) | Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Trainer Francis Lui indicated has his pleasure with Golden Sixty as he eyes a seasonal return with Hong Kong’s superstar galloper, plotting further riches at home and abroad with the four-time G1 winner and earner of HK$77.92 million.

“He’s healthy and happy, we’re building him up slowly,” Lui said.

Targeting the HK$100 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on 12 December, Lui is also remaining optimistic of campaigning the six-year-old abroad, highlighting the 2022 G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) at Tokyo as a possible option.

“The target of course is the Hong Kong International Races, so we’ll start him off in the Group races because he gets too much weight in Handicaps, carrying top weight – that’s the plan but we’ll see how he is.

“I think the only race we can think about overseas is in Japan, the Yasuda Kinen, but it all depends on the COVID-19 situation, we’ll see whether it is under control or not,” Lui said.

“It’s Japan if we go overseas, otherwise we will stay in Hong Kong.”

Golden Sixty’s domination of last season’s Champion Awards saw him named Horse of the Year, Champion Miler, Champion Middle-Distance Horse and Most Popular Horse of the Year.

Unbeaten his past two seasons, the son of Medaglia d’Oro’s 14-win streak has him within touching distance of Silent Witness’ Hong Kong record of 17 consecutive victories.

“We’ll keep him at the mile and we’ll see how he reacts, later on if he is showing it then we can step him up to 2000 metres again,” Lui said.

Four consecutive G1 triumphs in the 2020 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, 2021 Stewards’ Cup (1600m), Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) and FWD Champions Mile boosted his unblemished run as he bossed Hong Kong’s best over both a mile and 10-furlongs last term.

Rolling off the back of consecutive 60-plus winning seasons, Francis Lui ponders whether he will once again be able to maintain the pace that he has set his past two campaigns with 63 (2019/20) and 61 (2020/21) wins.

“I would say we will struggle this season. We have had two seasons over 60 wins and all of the horse’s ratings are quite high now, even with some moving on, the young horses have to catch up – they need time to develop,” Lui explained.

“I am expecting a lower number this year, maybe, but fingers crossed,” he added.

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