Sparkling Return for Aust bred HK Champion Golden Sixty

Tara Madgwick - Monday November 21

Aussie bred Golden Sixty made a sparkling return to racing at Sha Tin on Sunday racking up the 22nd victory of his decorated 25-start career and third straight HK$5 million Group II BOCHK Private Health Jockey Club Mile (1600m) success.

Golden Sixty is on track for the HK International meeting in December - image HKJC

It was hard fought victory. Neck and neck over the concluding stages with California Spangle, jockey Vincent Ho asked Golden Sixty to lift and he responded accordingly, overhauling his brave, youthful adversary by a neck as 1/1 second favourite in 1m 34.02s.

Enhancing the merit of his win, Golden Sixty clocked 21.32s for his final 400m after California Spangle set a crawling tempo throughout under jockey Zac Purton.

“I knew Golden Sixty would have the heart to run him down but he’s only 80 percent fit, so the last bit is his mental toughness. Definitely all credit to him and the team – we’re looking forward to December now.

“It was crawling at first and the turn I knew, around the 600 (metre mark), that Zac (Purton) will pick up the pace for sure, so I was just keeping an eye on what he was doing and I had to come out and make my move earlier,” Ho said.

Tony Cruz was full of praise for Irish bred Starspangledbanner gelding California Spangle who – while still only a four-year-old – has now registered two second placings to the six-time Group 1-winning Golden Sixty.

Advertisement

“I believe this horse still can improve. He’s fit and sound and we’ll fight another day,” Cruz said.

Enhancing his all-time earnings to HK$116,250,600 (a Hong Kong record), Golden Sixty will be now plotted towards winning a third successive HK$30 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at next month’s 2022 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on Sunday, 11 December.

“Same like before, he has a very good fighting heart. When he came close to the frontrunner, he really wanted to pass him.

“Zac is a good jockey and he knows how to manage the pace, but I think Vincent also knows Golden Sixty very well, he knows how to ride this horse,” trainer Francis Lui said.

Golden Sixty as a yearling

By champion sire Medaglia D’Oro (USA), Golden Sixty was a $300,000 NZB Ready to Run Sale purchase for his trainer from the Riversley Park draft and was a super successful pinhook having been sourced from the Element Hill draft at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $120,000.

Golden Sixty is a half-brother to stakes-placed Rainbow Connection and Igitur being the best of six winners from US bred Irish Group III winner Gaudeamus (USA), a Distorted Humor mare from the family of Group I stars Bosra Sham and Hector Protector.

Gaudeamus has a yearling filly by Vancouver and was covered last spring by Wootton Bassett (GB).
 

Advertisment

Race Result - Bochk Private Wealth Jc Mile Gr2 1600m

Sha Tin Track: Good Time: 1:34.02
1
Golden Sixty
- 7g Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Gaudeamus (USA) (Distorted Humor (USA))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: C Y Ho 58
2
0.3
California Spangle
- 5g Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Pearlitas Passion (IRE) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: Z Purton 56
3
2.8
Waikuku
- 8g Harbour Watch (IRE) x London Plane (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: S De Sousa 58
4
5.0
More Than This
- 7g Dutch Art (GB) x Striving (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: C S Shum Rdr: K C Leung 56
5
5.8
Excellent Proposal
- 6g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Procrastination (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: A Badel 56
6
5.9
Turin Redsun
- 5g Dubawi (IRE) x Irish Rookie (IRE) (Azamour (IRE))
Tnr: D Whyte Rdr: Lyle Hewitson 56
7
13.3
Kings Shield
- 8g Scat Daddy (USA) x Gender Dance (USA) (Miesque's Son (USA))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: Luke Ferraris 56
More Reading...
Black Type Potential for Zoustar Colt
Tony and Calvin McEvoy have  plans to tackle Black Type races with promising Zoustar colt Prestar, who scored his second win from just five starts at Randwick on Wednesday.
Last to First – He’s Seriously Hot!
Sent to the paddock after just one placing from five starts at two that included three attempts in stakes company, Siriusly Hot returned a gelding at Randwick and it certainly made a difference!
Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?
There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?
Hello Youmzain Filly Chasing More Stakes Success
Hello Youmzain (Fr) filly Platinum Diamond will put her undefeated Heavy track record on the line when she heads to Wanganui on Saturday to contest the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m).
Too Darn Hot nomination realises $255,000 in August (Late) Sale
A nomination in exceptional young stallion Too Darn Hot has topped today’s Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale, selling for $255,000.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 27
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Finding the Perfect Match for Your Mare
Now that the first foals of the season have hit the ground at farms across the country, breeders are finalising stallion bookings and searching for the perfect match for their mares.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday August 26
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wootton Bassett Colt Salutes at Sandown
Overdue for a win, talented Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Yamashita’s Gold shook off maiden status with a determined victory at Sandown on Wednesday for the Gavid Bedggood stable.
Coolmore Stallion Parade – A to Z-Catch Up on What You Might Have Missed!
The annual Coolmore Australia stallion parade is one you just can’t miss and if you didn’t make it this year, do read on as you will feel like you were there after all!