Golden Sixty Wins Epic G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup

Tara Madgwick - Monday February 27

Australian bred Golden Sixty confirmed himself as the best in Hong Kong by giving arch rival Romantic Warrior a start and a beating in the Group I Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin.

Advertisement

Golden Sixty wins again! - image HKJC

Regarded the underdog at the extended trip, Golden Sixty let his class do the talking as he steamed home under Vincent Ho to win after giving his main rival a couple of lengths on the corner.

The seven-year-old Queensland bred and sold galloper made it win number 24 (from just 28 starts) and eight Group Ones as he powered home in front of a rapturous crowd.

"I'm very happy," trainer Francis Lui said. "In my lifetime, I think this is the best horse and I don't think I can have another one. You can't expect another one."



Lui said he would consider the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Champion and Chaters Cup over the longer 2400 metre trip, but races around a mile over the coming months were likely future targets. 

"It's a difficult consideration, I think (it will be Japan) if I plan to run overseas. I have to discuss it with Vincent, but of course he still thinks he's a miler.

"Honestly if you go to visit him, he's the same – you have to be careful. He will bite you or he will even kick you," Lui added. "He's always been like that, that's his character."

Regular rider Vincent Ho went into the big race hopeful, but not overly confident considering he was stretching from 1600 to 2000 metres.

"He's getting too relaxed now," Ho said. "Maybe as he's getting older - perhaps he needs the blinkers soon!"

"He was so relaxed but when I ask him, he gives - so that's fine."

"To be honest I expected the other horse would beat us. But of course I was doing my best on Golden Sixty without hurting him too much for the Champions Mile and if we go to Japan."

"He's got a great heart. He's always trying his best - sometimes over his own limit."

"I don't want to overdo it," Ho added of his champion. "Just for him to show his best."

And his best he did show! Notching win 24 at start 28 and sending his earnings rattling over HK$136.5 million - the equivalent of about A$25.8 million.

Golden Sixty was bred and sold by the Hutchins family's Element Hill property in Queensland and sold for $120,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

He was purchased on the Gold Coast by Riversley Park and Enigma Farm and exported for an educational campaign in New Zealand where he was sold in the Ready to Run Sale fetching $300,000 before heading to Hong Kong.

Golden Sixty is a son of El Prado's Group One winning son Medaglia d'Oro - also sire of international champions Songbird and Rachel Alexandra and Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, the latter was also sold at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Dam Gaudeamus, a daughter of Distorted Humor, was a Group Two winner at Leopardstown and Listed winner at The Curragh - she was a brilliant three time winner as a two-year-old.

As well as Golden Sixty, Gaudeamus has produced the black type performers Rainbow Connection and Igitur as well as Sydney winners Be Mindful and Quiet Riot.

Josh Hutchins purchased Gaudeamus for $160,000 at the 2015 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale from the draft of Wood Nook Farm with Golden Sixty in-utero.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - The Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup Gr1 2000m

Sha Tin Track: G0 Time: 1:59.98
1
Golden Sixty
- 7g Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Gaudeamus (USA) (Distorted Humor (USA))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: C Y Ho 57
2
0.2
Romantic Warrior
- 5g Acclamation (GB) x Folk Melody (IRE) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C S Shum Rdr: K Teetan 57
3
1.7
Money Catcher
- 5g Ferlax (NZ) x Warren's Sister (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: S De Sousa 57
4
2.3
Glorious Dragon
- 8g Teofilo (IRE) x Tipperary Honor (FR) (Highest Honor (FR))
Tnr: P C Ng Rdr: H Bentley 57
5
2.5
Panfield
- 6h Lookin At Lucky (USA) x Esterina Ii (ARG) (Orpen (USA))
Tnr: A T Millard Rdr: J Bowman 57
6
4.5
Tourbillon Diamond
- 6g Olympic Glory (IRE) x Modave (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: C S Shum Rdr: A Badel 57
7
21.8
Ka Ying Star
- 8g Cityscape (GB) x Casual Glance (GB) (Sinndar (IRE))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
More Reading...
Barneswood Farm Trans Tasman Strike
A trans-Tasman ownership double prompted long and enthusiastic celebrations for Ashburton’s Barneswood Farm.
Sires With Winners - Sunday September 7
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ones to Watch – Bendigo
At this time of year, you tend to take special notice of well-bred 3YO debut winners and three of them arrived at Bendigo on Sunday that were all interesting for different reasons and none more so than one who has a name that has become infamous this year.
New G1 Winner for Wootton Bassett
Back in Australia for another season at Coolmore, Wootton Bassett (GB) was expected to get a 3YO Group I winner in France on Sunday, but the horse that got the job done was not the one punters expected.
He is a Freak - Third Consecutive Win for Golden Sixty in Champions Mile
The Group 1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin proved a fascinating tactical race. Still, there was ever only going to be one winner, which was the hometown hero Golden Sixty who sent the packed crowd into raptures with a third consecutive win in the race.
Shamus Award Mare Quintessa Cracks $1million in Prizemoney
Karaka graduate Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) became a millionaire and a dual Group One winner with a stunning last-to-first performance in the $400,000 Group One Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Golden Sixty Sharing the Love Around
The 29th of July 2006 at Leopardstown was a pretty good day for renowned trainer Jim Bolger as he saddled Teofilo to win the Listed Tyros Stakes, Heliostatic in the Group III Meld Stakes and Gaudeamus (USA) in the feature Group II Debutante Stakes.
Impressive First Foals for Don Corleone
The first son of outstanding sire Extreme Choice to find his way to Queensland, Group I performer Don Corleone proved very popular with breeders last spring covering 133 mares at Eureka Stud and his first foals are exactly what you might hope for.
Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G3 in South Korea
Australian bred Deep Field gelding Self Improvement was the pride of Hong Kong on Sunday when the Manfred Man trained gelding captured the Group III Seoul Korea Sprint (1200m) in South Korea.
Toronado Withdrawn from Service
Victorian breeders have been dealt a blow with Swettenham Stud announcing on Sunday evening that their champion sire Toronado (IRE) would not cover any mares in 2025 as he recovers from a significant infection that caused lameness.