GOLDEN SIXTY LEFT WITH IT ALL TO DO AFTER DRAWING THE WIDEST BARRIER IN THE HONG KONG MILE

By Darren Winningham | Thursday, December 7, 2023

The barrier draw for the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) was conducted on Thursday morning in front of a huge crowd.

All the featured horses were drawing well in their respective races until the turn came for the Hong Kong champion Golden Sixty, who is bidding for a third success in the Hong Kong MIle.

Golden Sixty’s owner Stanley Chan Ka Leung took to the podium, reached for a plastic plaque and then pulled down the cover to reveal barrier 14. There was a gasp from the large crowd assembled and then complete silence over the venue.

The Hong Kong champion and reigning three-time Hong Kong horse of the year for the past three seasons, boasting nine Group 1 wins and earnings of HK$147 million will face a stiff task from the extreme outside barrier 14.

He resumes after racing in the Group One FWD Champions Mile success on April 30. This is his first run off a 224-day break.

Trainer Francis Lui was playing down the poor barrier draw saying, “Of course, it’s not an ideal draw, and it makes things difficult for Vincent Ho. Midfield with cover, of course is where we would like to race. If you look at the field, I think California Spangle will lead, and he will slow down the pace. Probably, this race will be run at a slow pace.”

Stanley Chan Ka Leung who owns Golden Sixty spoke to me after the barrier draw saying: “Barrier 14 is very disappointing for us. We will discuss with Vincent (jockey) how we will ride him on Sunday.

“Vincent is one of the top local jockeys in Hong Kong – I have faith in him”.

The challenge of facing the starter for the first time after such a lengthy spell did not bother Mr. Leung. His response was: “If you look at his record for the past four seasons, his first race he won – so that is why this season we have decided to go straight into the International Race”.

There are always high expectations for Golden Sixty when he races.

Here he will take on a full field of 14 on Sunday in the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (Group 1) with prize money of HK$32 million on offer.

The winner’s prize money is HK$17,920,000. If Golden Sixty wins the race that will take his overall career earnings more than HK$165 million – another new Hong Kong record for the most prize money earned by any horse in Hong Kong.

Jockey Vincent Ho comes off a massive victory at Happy Valley on Wednesday night being the first hometown local jockey to win the LONGINES International Jockeys Championship (IJC). He is full of confidence and will need to give Golden Sixty a gun run against this quality international field as Hong Kong star looks to claim his twenty-sixth victory in his thirtieth career start.

More articles