The reigning champion Golden Sixty turned back the challenge of the international raiders in Sunday’s Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin.
Stretching his winning record to 16, the son of Medaglia d’Oro (USA) became the winningest horse in Hong Kong history. With Vincent Ho in the saddle, Golden Sixty defeated the Dutch Art gelding More Than This by one and three-quarter lengths with Japan’s top-class Heart’s Cry colt Salios (JPN) a head back in third ahead of the One Thousand Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Zoffany) in fourth.
"He is amazing, I’m so grateful to be on him, I have no words for that – it’s amazing,” Ho said.
Trained by Francis Lui, Golden Sixty advanced his record to 19 wins from 20 starts. His only loss came over 1400m at Sha Tin back in July 2019, and only Beauty generation tops him for earnings.
The 6yo son of Deep Field was a $300,000 NZB Ready to Run Sale purchase for his trainer from the Riversley Park draft. He was a $120,000 pinhook from the Element Hill draft at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
A half-brother to stakes-placed Igitur and Rainbow connection, Golden Sixty is the best of six winners from eight to race for the US-bred Irish Group III winner Gaudeamus (USA). A daughter of Distorted Humor, Gaudeamus (USA) hails from the family of Group I stars Bosra Sham and Hector Protector.
Gaudeamus is the dam of the promising three-year-old Choisir gelding Rainbow Connection. Trained by Mathew Dunn, Rainbow Connection is a Randwick winner, placed in the Listed South Pacific Classic won by Ellsburg from Private Eye and runner-up to Exoboom in the Group III Hawkesbury Guineas at his most recent start in his 4-start career to date.
Gaudeamus has a filly by Capitalist that was purchased by All Winners Thoroughbreds for $425,000 from the Element Hill draft at the 2021 Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Purchased by Josh Hutchins for $160,000 from the Wood Nook Farm draft at the 2015 National Broodmare Sale, Gaudeamus missed last season.
