Golden Sixty Strikes Again in Sha Tin Trophy

Ready to Run Sale graduate Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro) extended his dominant form in Hong Kong with yet another sparkling performance in Sunday’s HK$4.5m Group Two The Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy (1600m). 

Bought for $300,000 from Riversley Park’s draft at the 2017 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Golden Sixty has now had 13 starts for 12 wins, earning more than HK$35 million. That’s the equivalent of around NZ$6.9 million, which is 23 times his purchase price.

Last season, Golden Sixty became only the second horse in history to complete a clean sweep of Hong Kong’s Four-Year-Old Classic Series – the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m), Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and Hong Kong Derby (2000m).

At Hong Kong’s 2019-20 Champion Awards, Golden Sixty was named Champion Four-Year-Old and also won the Most Popular Horse of the Year award, which is decided by public vote.

Golden Sixty has begun his five-year-old campaign on much the same note, recording dominant victories in last month’s Celebration Cup (1400m) and Sunday’s Sha Tin Trophy in his first two starts since the Hong Kong Derby in March.

Ridden as usual by Vincent Ho, Golden Sixty sat in midfield before reeling in the leaders with ease in the home straight. He burst to the lead and cruised past the finish line half a length ahead, stopping the clock in a quick time of 1:33.37.

“They went really slow, but he settled really well and once my horse hit the front he thought 'job done',” said Ho. “He always switches off in front, that's why he never wins by a huge margin, but he's come on really well and today he was a lot more settled in the parade ring and behind the gates.

“Each time his fitness is coming on, and hopefully by the Hong Kong Mile (1600m) in December he should be at the top.

“At the moment, I don’t think there’s a horse in Hong Kong to threaten him.”

Golden Sixty’s sparkling successes are part of a Ready to Run Sale roll of honour that is unmatched by any other Australasian two-year-old sale, and another quality catalogue of talented two-year-olds is set to go through the ring in 2020. This year’s Ready to Run Sale will be held at Karaka on Wednesday 18 & Thursday 19 November.