The Asian Bloodstock Review – Stars to the fore at Sha Tin

Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC)

Sunday’s G2 Jockey Club Mile at Sha Tin was billed as a race in two – the champion, Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), versus the new kid on the block, California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner).

And it didn’t disappoint.

The former was first-up and in search of his third consecutive win in the race, while the latter was rock-hard fit, following two Group victories this term.

Somewhat surprisingly, California Spangle was all the rage and went off at an odds-on quote, and as the runners swung for home, you would have been on good terms with yourself had you backed the Tony Cruz-trained 4-year-old, which had a picnic out in front under Zac Purton (his first 800 metres was 1.28s outside standard).

Golden Sixty called upon his champion qualities, however, and wouldn’t be denied. The 7-year-old ambled up to his junior rival and settled in for a tooth and nail battle. He let down in a manner we have seen time and again, going on to score by a neck to improve his record to a phenomenal 22 wins from 25 starts (six of his triumphs have been at the top level).

Remarkably, Golden Sixty’s jockey, Vincent Ho, said the two-time Horse of the Year was only 80 per cent fit, and he will also be the beneficiary of a five-pound (2.3kg) weight swing when the two square off again in the G1 Hong Kong Mile on December 11.

“It was crawling at first and at the turn I knew, around the 600-metre mark, that Zac 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.

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

Trainer Francis Lui hailed Golden Sixty’s will to win and said his star would derive plenty of benefit from the run.

“Same like before, he has a very good fighting heart. When he came close to the front runner, he really wanted to pass him.” Lui said.

“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.

“Honestly, he’s an easy horse to train, so I think after this race, his condition will improve.”

Golden Sixty was bred in Queensland and sold through the Element Hill draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $120,000 to Riversley Park and Enigma Farm. He was later purchased by Lui for NZ$300,000 from the Riversley Park draft at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.

A winner of a record HK$116 million (AU$22 million) in prizemoney, the son of Medaglia D’Oro (USA) is from the stakes-winning mare Gaudeamus (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}), who Josh Hutchins purchased for $160,000 while carrying Golden Sixty at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale Select Session.

Golden Sixty has a number of siblings that have raced and won in Australia, them being: Fulcrum (Pivotal {GB}), Be Mindful (Pierro), Igitur (Helmet), Quiet Riot (Fastnet Rock) and Rainbow Connection (Choisir).

Derby hero delivers fresh-up

Acclamation (GB) gelding Romantic Warrior (Ire) laid a marker for the December 11 G1 Hong Kong Cup when he blitzed his rivals in Sunday’s G2 Jockey Club Cup at Sha Tin.

First-up since his 2l victory in April’s G1 QE II Cup, Romantic Warrior shaved 0.07s off Sha Tin’s 2000-metre class record, even though trainer Danny Shum revealed the 5-year-old was nowhere near his peak.

Under visiting jockey James McDonald, Romantic Warrior beat stablemate, Tourbillon Diamond (Olympic Glory {Ire}), who raced as Eric The Eel in Australia, by 1.25l to chalk up his eighth win from nine starts.

Trainer Danny Shum initially planned to kick off Romantic Warrior’s campaign over 1600 metres, before having a change of heart.

“At the end of last season, I planned to run him at 1600 metres for his first race, but he twisted his right foreleg and he got a splint, so he had to be off for three weeks until he’d totally recovered.

“It’s very hard to fight with Golden Sixty and California Spangle, so I talked to the owner about changing the plan and running at 2000 metres.”

Shum said Romantic Warrior, who is the only galloper to claim a Hong Kong Derby in his first preparation, is “80 per cent fit only”.

McDonald was full of praise for the winner of close to HK$43 million (AU$8 million).

“I thought he did enough in the end – and probably had enough in the end – but he’s a great horse, and he knows where that winning post is,” the Kiwi jockey said.

Romantic Warrior is from the winning Street Cry (Ire) mare Folk Melody (Ire) and was sold for was sold for HK$4.8 million (AU$919,000) at the 2021 Hong Kong International Sale (June). His grandam, Folk Opera (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}), registered five wins, including the G1 E P Taylor S. in 2008.

Lucky Sweynesse soars into Hong Kong Sprint calculations

Last season’s Champion Griffin, Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse), upstaged Hong Kong’s Champion Sprinter, Wellington (All Too Hard), in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint, prompting veteran trainer Manfred Man to label him the best horse he’s trained in 21 years.

“I think this one is better than the other two before (two-time Centenary Sprint Cup champion Eagle Regiment and Chairman’s Sprint Prize runner-up Big Time Baby). I’m confident to say he can still improve,” said Man.

Man will be hoping Lucky Sweynesse can hand him a maiden top-level success when he lines up in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint on December 11.

Lucky Sweynesse was a NZ$90,000 buy from the Woburn Farm draft at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka. He is from the Listed victress, Madonna Mia (NZ) (Red Clubs {Ire}) and his second dam, Hill Of Hope (Danehill {USA}), is a three-quarter sister to Group 2 winner and Group 2 producer Rose Of Danehill (Danehill {USA}).

Lucky Patch (NZ) (El Roca) and Duke Wai (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) filled the placings to make it a 1-2-3 for New Zealand-based sires.

Lane steers Serifos to Group 1 glory

Australian jockey Damian Lane won his fourth Group 1 in Japan, after Serifos (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) rocketed from last to first in the Mile Championship at Hanshin on Sunday.

“I’m very happy. The horse was super. He’s very consistent and I knew he would improve after watching his videos (of previous races),” said Lane.

“I wanted to show how really competitive he is. The pace was good and he was a bit keen early but I was always confident.”

Serifos’ sire, Daiwa Major (Jpn), won consecutive Mile Championships’ in 2006 and 2007.

The Mitsumasa Nakauchida-trained Serifos is from the stakes-winning Le Havre (Ire) mare Sea Front (Fr).

A Great Cups run for in-form Zahra

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Mark Zahra added another Cup to his trophy cabinet, with the Australian taking out the Listed (Local G1) Singapore Gold Cup aboard Hongkong Great (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky {USA}) at Kranji on Saturday.

Second in the race was the Donna Logan-trained, Michael Dee-ridden Super Impact (NZ) (Real Impact {Jpn}), whose Brave Smash (Jpn) half-brother will be offered as Lot 501 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The colt is a member of the Attunga Stud draft.

From the Scat Daddy (USA) mare La Sinverguenza (Chi), Hongkong Great won five of his first seven starts in Chile, including three at Group 1 level, before being transferred to Hong Kong, where he notched three victories. He now has two wins in Singapore for trainer Ricardo le Grange to make it 10 overall.

Soon after his Melbourne Cup triumph aboard Gold Trip (Fr) (Outsrip {GB}), Zahra bagged the Cranbourne Cup with Uncle Bryn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).