Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC)
If there was any doubt Golden Sixty is Hong Kong’s greatest horse of all-time, surely that debate has now been well and truly put to bed.
The champion son of Medaglia D’Oro (USA), who was bred in Queensland by the Hutchins family, notched his eighth Group 1, drawing level with Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock), in accounting for his new, younger rival Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), in what was a stirring edition of the Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000 metres) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
It was the 8-year-old’s second win in the race in three years, his 24th from 28 starts, and his prizemoney jumped to a staggering HK$136,530,600 (AU$26 million).
“He’s too relaxed now. He’s getting older, maybe he needs the blinkers soon, but when I asked him, he gave that effort, so it’s fine. He’s got a great heart, and he’s always trying his best,” winning jockey, Vincent Ho, said post-race.
Golden Sixty’s trainer, Francis Lui, added: “I’m very happy. 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.”
“I’m very happy. In my lifetime I think this is the best horse (Golden Sixty), and I don’t think I can have another one. You can’t expect another one.” - Francis Lui
Golden Sixty’s dam, Gaudeamus (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}), produced a three-quarter sister to the champion by Medaglia D’Oro’s Golden Slipper-winning son Vancouver in the spring of 2021 and delivered a filly by Wootton Bassett (GB) in October, before being covered by So You Think (NZ).
Earlier, Australian import Straight Arron (Fastnet Rock), who won the G3 ATC Carbine Clubs S. in 2022 when trained by Chris Waller, chalked up his first win in Hong Kong, thrusting his name into Hong Kong Derby contention in the process.
The Caspar Fownes-trained 4-year-old won Race 8 - an 1800-metre Class 3 event - under Blake Shinn.
“He’s a nice horse, I’ve had him for only three weeks and it’s nice to get a result in a short period of time,” Fownes said.
“Of course, he’ll run in the Derby - it's 1000 per cent. He should get eight points for the win and that will get him well into recognition for the Derby and his overseas form tells you he’s a Derby horse.
“He was held up the whole straight today (Sunday) and if he’d got out earlier he would have won by a bigger margin.”
“Of course, he’ll (Straight Arron) run in the Derby... He should get eight points for the win and that will get him well into recognition for the Derby and his overseas form tells you he’s a Derby horse.” - Caspar Fownes
Straight Arron was bred by Torryburn Stud and made $270,000 at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Torryburn Stud will offer Straight Arron’s half-sister (Lot 173), by Pierro, at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Straight Arron as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Another runner to strengthen his Derby credentials was Super Sunny Sing (Nicconi), who was much the best in Race 9 - the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800 metres) - the traditional Hong Kong Derby lead-up.
Offered by Noogee Park at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, he made $48,000, with John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) buying.
Sold to Hong Kong after winning a Cranbourne trial under the name Axe Atkins, when trained by Patrick Payne, the gelding is now in the hands of Chris So.
“To get a horse to win this race makes me very happy and it relieves a lot of pressure now,” said So.
“(Sunday) has proven that he should handle further distance but let’s see how he pulls up - if he's sound.”
Earlier, John Size’s rising star Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner) made it four wins from five starts and enhanced his Derby prospects with a dominant performance in Race 3 - a 1600-metre Class 2.
Beauty Eternal winning at Sha Tin | Image courtesy of the HKJC
Bred in Australia by Peter Raftopoulos, Beauty Eternal was offered by Fernrigg Farm at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Highway Session, where Foote bought him for $90,000.
He had two trials for Allan and Jason Williams under the name Teamyouessa, before being exported.
“It was good, it was what I expected, just let him have a nice bit of exercise on the way through. He got into a lovely spot, he did it easy,” victorious jockey Zac Purton said.
“It was good, it was what I expected, just let him (Beauty Eternal) have a nice bit of exercise on the way through. He got into a lovely spot, he did it easy.” - Zac Purton
Asked if he had any concerns about Beauty Eternal getting the Derby trip (2000 metres), Purton said: “I think he’ll be fine, especially against his own age. He'll be fine.”
Panthalassa bounces back in Saudi Cup
The Yoshito Yahagi-trained Panthalassa (Jpn) turned in a sub-par performance in December’s G1 Hong Kong Cup (2000 metres) at Sha Tin, but that was forgotten when the son of Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) led from start to finish to hand Japan a maiden victory in the world’s richest race, the US$20 million (AU$30 million) G1 Saudi Cup (1800 metres) in Riyadh.
“I really can't believe it. I don't know if it is real at the moment,” Yahagi said.
“I think I was correct that my feeling was right that he could handle the dirt. You know this is not easy. Japanese racing tries everything to improve and develop. Japanese horse racing has become more international.
“Of course, this is the best feeling as the prizemoney is the best.”
Lord Kanaloa has sired 85 stakes wins and 62 Group wins to his credit, with his seven Group 1 winners including the 2020 G1 Blue Diamond S. hero Tagaloa, as well as superstars Almond Eye (Jpn) and Saturnalia (Jpn).
Frankel filly blitzes rivals in Dubai Group 2
Godolphin filly With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) hacked up under William Buick in Friday night’s G2 Balanchine S. (1800 metres) at Meydan, making it five consecutive wins in the race for trainer Charlie Appleby and six for ‘The Blue Army’.
Last season’s G3 Saratoga Oaks winner, With The Moonlight has three Group wins from her past four outings.
“She’s really getting the hang of it now. She has a good bit of class and does everything the right way,” Buick, who has lifted the Balanchine trophy three times since 2019, said.
“She’s (With The Moonlight) really getting the hang of it now. She has a good bit of class and does everything the right way.” - William Buick
With The Moonlight is a sister to Godolphin’s G1 Jebel Hatta heroine Dream Castle (GB).
Hishi Iguazu doubles up in Nakayama Kinen
The Noriyuki Hori-trained Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) won Sunday’s G2 Nakayama Kinen (1800 metres) for the second time in three years.
Interestingly, the race was won last year by Panthalassa.
The 7-year-old is from the Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter La Liz (Arg) (Bernstein {USA}), who has thrown six individual winners in Japan.
Hishi Iguazu holds a nomination for the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. (2000 metres), to be held at Randwick on April 8.
