Graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock Sales claimed six trophies at Hong Kong’s 2019-20 Champion Awards dinner at Sha Tin, with superstar four-year-old Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro) leading the charge.
Bought for $300,000 from Riversley Park’s draft at the 2017 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Golden Sixty was named Champion Four-Year-Old and also won the Most Popular Horse of the Year award, which is decided by public vote.
Golden Sixty became only the second horse in history to complete a clean sweep of Hong Kong’s Four-Year-Old Classic Series – the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m), Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and Hong Kong Derby (2000m).
Trained by Francis Lui for owner Stanley Chan Ka Leung, Golden Sixty has won 10 of his 11 starts in Hong Kong. He was undefeated in seven appearances throughout the 2019-20 season.
Golden Sixty has earned HK$31.47 million, which is the equivalent of NZ$6.2 million – more than 20 times his purchase price at the Ready to Run Sale.
Meanwhile, fellow Ready to Run graduate Beat the Clock (Hinchinbrook) earned the title of Champion Sprinter for the second year in a row.
The six-year-old was a dual Group One winner this season, capturing the Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m).
Beat the Clock has now won 10 of his 25 starts, including four Group One victories, for career earnings of HK$52.89 million. That’s NZ$10.41 million, which is more than 50 times his $200,000 price tag at the 2015 Ready to Run Sale.
All-time Hong Kong prize-money record holder Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock) was named Champion Miler for the third season in a row.
The champion galloper lifted his career total to 20 wins from 38 starts with prize-money of HK$107 million (NZ$21 million). The highlight of his 2019-20 campaign was a third straight win in the Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m).
Beauty Generation was bought for just $60,000 from Highden Park’s draft at the 2014 Select Yearling Sale.
The Champion Griffin award went to Good Luck Friend (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who was a $90,000 purchase at the 2018 Ready to Run Sale. He has won four of his six starts, earning more than HK$3.3 million (NZ$650,000).
The award for Most Improved Horse was won by $30,000 Select Sale graduate Amazing Star (NZ) (Darci Brahma), whose rating soared from 58 to 100 with four wins from six starts during the season. He has earned HK$5 million (NZ$984,000).
