GOLDEN SIXTY: WHAT WORD CAN I USE TO DESCRIBE HIM? THE WORD CHAMPION SIMPLY DOES NOT SUFFICE

By Darren Winningham | Sunday, December 10, 2023

The Hong Kong champion Golden Sixty embarrassed a world class field assembled to compete in the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (Group 1). The race now has prize money of HK$32 million.

The parochial crowd of 65,252 yelled and screamed as the horse loomed up at the 300-metre mark and Vincent Ho sat down and rode hard. The closer they got to the post the further he surged away. It was a truly memorable win – probably the best in his career which now boasts an ultra-impressive record of: 26th career wins in just 29 starts ... 10 Group 1 successes ... prize-money earning of a staggering HK$165 million in prize money for his owners and the world’s highest-earning racehorse.

It was a herculean win by Golden Sixty. He was an eight-year-old resuming racing after a 224-day break between runs – winning his last race the FWD Champions’ Mile back in April. He drew barrier 14 – and got caught a little wide in the running.

Despite these factors the local Hong Kong crowd kept on backing him late to the exclusion of the world class field that was taking him on and he was sent out at the $2.30 favourite.

Golden Sixty becomes only the second three-time winner of the race winning the race in 2020, 2021 and again in 2023. The only other horse to achieve this was Good Ba Ba who won in consecutive years 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Owner Stanley Chan Ka Leung has stated that Golden Sixty will only have two more runs prior to his retirement. The first in the Stewards’ Cup on 21 January and the second FWD Champions Mile on 28 April.

Jockey Vincent Ho was full of praise after the win. “He’s a monster. When I asked him for an effort, he lengthened like I can’t believe – he’s still got that turn of foot.

“It’s crazy. It’s amazing. I got the three-wide with cover, where I wanted to be, and he knows his racing now. He’s never travelled keen with me. He was relaxed all the way and then when I asked him for an effort, he just gave me 100 percent. It’s a great team effort, so thanks to all the team.” Ho said.

Trainer by Francis Lui was all smiles after the extraordinary win saying, “He is my champion. I think he enjoyed the race – he knew what to do.

“I was happy with how he improved in every barrier trial. He showed a good fighting heart. Our team did a good job, they looked after the horse very well. I have to say thank you to my team.”

Although soundly beaten by an extraordinary champion, Jockey James McDonald was happy with the 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner Voyage Bubble’s effort to finish second. “That was unbelievable. It was a super performance. I’m so proud of him and Ricky Yiu has done an amazing job. He’s in for a great season,” McDonald said.

The Japanese runner Namur was a very unlucky third in the race. With the muddling speed and a poor barrier draw the race really did not suit him. Jockey William Buick said: “She ran great. She was drawn 12 which wasn’t ideal, but I did the thing I had to do, and she’s got a good turn of foot which she showed today. We covered a bit of ground, but I think everyone will be happy with that. She bumped into a superstar.”

More articles