Golden Sixty extends unbeaten sequence to 13 with Gold Cup triumph
Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro) extended his unbeaten run to 13 straight wins with victory in yesterday’s Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) at Sha Tin.
However, Hong Kong’s highest rated horse was forced to spare no effort as he scrambled to add a third consecutive Group 1 to his glittering record which now stands at 16 wins from 17 starts, four shy of Silent Witness’ (El Moxie) record 17 consecutive wins.
Dropped out to his customary position at the rear of the field, the gelding began his surge in the straight but the challenge from Furore (Pierro) on the inside required jockey Vincent Ho to call on everything that Golden Sixty could give and, it proved just enough in a time of 2m 0.25s by a short head, the smallest margin of any of his wins.
“I was quite confident that I would stay ahead of them but we fought hard – it wasn’t easy, it was a bit unexpected to be that close,” Ho said.
“I was just worried about the horse to the inside of him because Golden Sixty laid in a bit, he would have won easier if he didn’t do that.
“Once he went past Exultant he wanted to lay in – it made it difficult for me but it’s still a victory.”
Yesterday’s win was both a first in the Gold Cup for Ho and trainer Francis Lui.
“I think you can’t really change the horse’s character – when he passed the third horse (Exultant), Golden Sixty thinks he has finished the job, but there’s another horse on the inside,” Lui said.
The 131-rater is now only two wins shy of Beauty Generation’s (Road To Rock) single-season record of eight and he has the first two legs of Hong Kong’s Triple Crown in the bag after claiming last month’s Stewards’ Cup (Gr 1, 1600m).
“I will think about the third leg of the Triple Crown, we also have a race in April in mind,” Lui said referencing FWD Champions Day.
The third and final leg of the Triple Crown is the Champions & Chater Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) on May 23 and, if successful stepping up to 12 furlongs in three months’ time, he could become the second horse after River Verdon (Be My Native) in the 1993/94 racing season to win the Triple Crown.
Waikuku steams to Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup victory as Size reaches milestone
John Size soared higher into Hong Kong racing’s stratosphere after the 11-time champion trainer posted his 1300th winner with Waikuku’s (Harbour Watch) triumph in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (Gr 1, 1400m).
Joining John Moore, who retired at the end of the 2019/2020 season with a record 1,735 victories, and Tony Cruz, who has amassed 1,329 wins, as the only trainers to have prepared 1,300 Hong Kong winners, Size continued an excellence which has become his trademark with Waikuku.
The six-year-old notched his second elite triumph after stalking main rival Southern Legend (Not A Single Doubt) into the straight before easing to a one and a quarter length margin over Caspar Fownes’ charge. Mighty Giant (Power) was third.
In typically self-effacing style, Size attempted to deflect attention post-race as winning jockey Joao Moreira spoke glowingly about the trainer’s attention to detail and work ethic.
“It probably means I’ve been here a long time and I’m doing my job well,” Size said, reflecting on his move from Sydney to Hong Kong in 2001.
“Every achievement along the way in your career is meaningful.
“I couldn’t have imagined that in my wildest dreams. Obviously, it’s been a good move – very good for my career – and I hope it is that I can do a good job for customers.”
At 66, the quietly-spoken horseman remains at the apex of his powers and his ability to nurse horses back into health and form remains a hallmark of his operation.
Waikuku, who had not saluted since the Stewards’ Cup in January 2020, overcame a string of minor ailments to return to winning form.
“He had some interruptions earlier in the season, he had a temperature and he was out of work for quite a while,” Size said.
“Back to 1400 metres was probably pretty suitable for him with our competition just at present and he likes a fast track, so he was able to run some time.
“So, he had a couple of advantages today that he doesn’t normally get so he was able to win the race convincingly.”
Moreira praised both Size and Waikuku.
“He’s such a genuine horse, we know his finish is quite strong.
“We had a good start, we tracked the right horse. I was confident about my bloke and when I pulled him out in the straight, I knew he was going to be the strongest and he didn’t let us down.”
Regarding Size, one of his staunchest allies, Moreira said: “All the success he’s had so far, he works so hard, he deserves it.
“Being associated with such a successful trainer, it’s a privilege – I’m so proud of it.
“I hope this association can last as long as possible.”
After notching his 1,300th Hong Kong win with Waikuku, Size moved to 1,301 wins as Tempest Express (Proisir) claimed the nightcap, the Class 3 Werther Handicap (1400m), a victory that edged to him outright top spot on the trainers’ championship standings.
Healthy Happy lands Classic Cup to remain strongly in Derby contention
An inspired Alexis Badel capitalised fully on Frankie Lor’s generosity to snare the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) as Healthy Happy (Zoustar) underlined his Hong Kong Derby (Gr 1. 2000m) claims with a dramatic victory.
Uniting with the former Australian galloper for the first time after Vincent Ho picked up the ride on Tourbillon Diamond (Olympic Glory), Badel dictated tactics from the front to deliver Healthy Happy by a neck from Russian Emperor (Galileo) with Shadow Hero (Pierro) a further nose away in third.
The Frenchman’s daring tactics, crowned by a pedestrian section between the 1200 metres and 800 metres in just 24.46s, delighted Lor.
“I think the horse had a chance but I wasn’t sure he could win because it was the first time at 1800 metres,” Lor said. “But I think the jockey is really smart, he didn’t go that fast, so I can say I ‘steal’ the race.”
Happy Healthy raced in Australia as Leviathan for Peter and Paul Snowden and, until yesterday, had not been tried beyond 1600 metres.
Badel detected from the pre-race preliminary he was on the perfect horse to be daring – assuming nobody else wanted to lead.
“It’s not very easy but I had the horse for this tactic to lead and going into the gate, the horse was so relaxed. I was very happy if no-one wanted to lead, I was very happy to do so and this just happened like a dream,” he said.
“The horse is very talented from the front. He’s a very good horse, he’s got great abilities. I am very grateful to get the ride on him.
“He’s such a big horse, he’s got a very big action and a very good attitude. I wanted to give him a comfortable race with a lot of space and hopefully keep the momentum.
“I was just happy to let my horse go because he’s a very big horse and I knew he was going to stay on well. He was also very relaxed in front.
“It allowed him to take a very big breath before the effort and then he kept on well.”
Both Lor and Badel expect the 2000 metres of the Hong Kong Derby on March 201 won’t be an issue for the gelding.
Douglas Whyte was elated with the performance of Russian Emperor, a son of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) and champion Australian mare Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock).
“I always said the Derby would be his day. The blinkers have certainly got his mind switched on,” Whyte said.
“The winner had it all his way, the second sectional was 24.46s and even though he still showed greenness, we’re on track.”
David Hayes was similarly encouraged by the effort of Shadow Hero, who produced his best Hong Kong performance since leaving Australia, where he won two Group 1s.
“Very happy with that,” Hayes said.
Tony Millard could have a two-pronged attack in next month’s Classic after Panfield’s (Lookin’ At Lucky) fitting victory in the Class 2 Ambitious Dragon Handicap (2000m) – a race named in honour of one of Millard’s two Derby champions.
“He’s a proper Derby horse and if they went a little harder here, he would have won by more. He’s the real deal,” Millard, who celebrated a Sha Tin treble, said.
“That was dominant and he had a clean run and it was the first time we’ve been able to see that. He’s pretty good.”
Tony Piccone’s daring front-running tactics paid off aboard the Chris So-trained Pakistan Friend (Not A Single Doubt), clinging on for a narrow success in the Class 4 Super Kid Handicap (1800m) after opening up a lead of close to 15 lengths down the back straight.
Derek Leung continued his solid form of late with victory for Paul O’Sullivan aboard Vukan (Sacred Falls) in the Class 4 California Memory Handicap (1400m).
Karis Teetan notched a double thanks to victories atop Resolute (Per Incanto) in the Class 4 Gold-Fun Handicap (1200m, dirt) before Man Star (Shooting To Win) broke through in the Class 3 Good Ba Ba Handicap (1200m, dirt).