When Vincent Ho let the reins out a notch on Golden Sixty at the 300m mark of the Group 1 The Longines Hong Kong Mile, it was a spontaneous eruption from his adoring fans who had waited 32 weeks since his last start in the Champions Mile in April.
The winner of the race in 2020 and 2021, and second last year, the 8yo son of Medaglia d’Oro (USA) defeated the Deep Field gelding Voyage Bubble by one and a half lengths with the Japanese runner Namur (Harbinger) a length and a quarter back in third.
“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," Ho said.
"It’s crazy. It’s amazing. Perfectly, I got the three-wide cover where I wanted to be and he knows his racing now. He never travelled keen with me, he was relaxed all of the way and then when I asked him for an effort, he just gave me 100 percent.”
The Francis Lui-trained gelding joins a select club of thoroughbreds that have won ten Group 1s and stands alone as the highest money earner in history in Hong Kong.
Golden Sixty advanced his record to an incredible 26 wins, two seconds, and a third from 30 starts with earnings of HK$165,850,600.
Gold
en Sixty was bred and sold by the Hutchins family's Element Hill in Queensland. He was a $120,000 pinhook for Riversley Park and Enigma Farm at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Riversley Park sold him at the 2017 NZB Ready To Run Sale of 2YOs, with Francis Lui having the final say at $300,000.
Golden Sixty one of 26 Gr1 winners for El Prado's Group One-winning son Medaglia d'Oro (USA), who shuttled to Darley for eight seasons.
His dam Gaudeamus (USA), a daughter of Distorted Humor (USA), was a Group Two winner at Leopardstown and Listed winner at The Curragh at two.
As well as Golden Sixty (USA), Gaudeamus produced the black-type performers Rainbow Connection and Igitur and Sydney winners Be Mindful and Quiet Riot.
Josh Hutchins purchased Gaudeamus (USA) for $160,000 at the 2015 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale from the draft of Wood Nook Farm with Golden Sixty in-utero.
The veteran daughter of Distorted Humor (USA) is still going strong. She has a 2yo filly by Medaglia d’Oro’s Golden Slipper winner Vancouver named Golden Millions, who is in training with Ciaron Maher & David Eustace.
Gaudeamus (USA) has a yearling filly by Wootton Bassett (GB), who is in the Element Hill Draft at the Magic Millions in January (Lot 704)
Gaudeamus (USA) visited So You Think last spring.
