Legendary Golden Sixty Lands Third Hong Kong Mile

Ready to Run Sale graduate Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro) added another chapter to his legendary career with a third victory in the HK$32m Group One Longines Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

It was a record-extending 10th Group One win in Hong Kong for the three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year, who has an overall career record of 30 starts for 26 wins, three placings and an unprecedented HK$165.85m in prize-money. Golden Sixty was bought for $300,000 from the 2017 Ready to Run Sale.

Golden Sixty is only the second horse to ever win the Hong Kong Mile three times, joining Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan).

The champion eight-year-old was making his first start of the season in Sunday’s showpiece, returning from a 224-day break between runs. He came up against a quality international field, and his daunting task was made even more difficult by having to jump from the outside gate in a field of 14.

But Golden Sixty’s star quality shone through and brought an adoring crowd of 65,252 to their feet. After settling in seventh, three wide but with cover, he burst to the lead in the straight with a dazzling turn of foot and pulled away to win with ease for regular rider Vincent Ho.

“He's a monster,” Ho said. “When I asked him for effort, he lengthened like I can't believe. He’s still got that turn of foot. It’s crazy.

“It's amazing. I got the three-wide cover, where I wanted, and he knows his racing now. He never travelled too keen. He was relaxed the whole way and when I asked, he just gave me 100%. It's madness and a great team effort, because it's not easy to come here without any preparation. He's not eight – he feels like he's four. He’s just an amazing horse.”

Golden Sixty is trained by Francis Lui, who purchased him from the Riversley Park draft at the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka six years ago.

“He is my champion,” Lui said. “I think he enjoyed the race – he knew what to do. I was happy with how he improved in every barrier trial, and he showed good fighting heart today. Our team did a good job, they looked after the horse very well. I have to say thank you to my team.”