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| Rowan Anderson |
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“A horse of a generation wins the race of the decade”
Golden Sixty has today reclaimed his place as king of Hong Kong Racing taking out the Stewards Cup for a second time and adding it to a growing list of success.
Twenty-seven starts for 23 wins and three placings amassing prize money beyond HK $129.6 million.
Over his career his CV has been glittered with victories in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (2020), Hong Kong Classic Cup (2020), Sha Tin Trophy (2020), three times Jockey Club Mile (2020, 2021, 2022), two Hong Kong Mile wins (2020, 2021), Hong Kong Gold Cup and two times Champions Mile victories (2021,2022).
The latest victory makes it his second Stewards' Cup (2021, 2023) prevailing over rival California Spangle and Romantic Warrior.
It was billed as the race of the decade with Romantic Warrior prepared by Danny Shum and Karis Teetan in the saddle tipped as a slight favourite over the champion son of Medgaglia d’Oro.
From the jump California Spangle led for the first 400m under champion jockey Zac Purton and as the pace quickened the leading trio were the three most backed hopes in California Spangle, Romantic Warrior, and Golden Sixty.
It was to be a case of who had what was needed in the finish with 400m left Vincent Ho brought his mount off the rail to amble up between the two lead horses for the 7YO gelded champion to show he was in a class of his own for trainer Francis Lui to take victory as he has so many times before.
Ho has partnered with him for all of his career starts dating back to his debut in March 2019 kicking off a run of three consecutive wins before a 56 day break and 16 straight victories following that lay-up.
The last start for him was back in November for the Group Two Jockey Club Mile which saw him temporarily dethroned by California Spangle partnered with Zac Purton making the win on Sunday so much sweeter as he took back the crown.
Australian hoop Jamie Kah flew to Hong Kong earlier in the week to partner Voyage Bubble in the Group One Hong Kong Classic Mile during the meet. Her mission was to take out the feature over 1600m for champion trainer Ricky Yiu and her mission was accomplished with Kah becoming the fourth Australian jockey to do so in the last twelve editions of the race.
The Australian representation in the winner’s circle was strong with Kah also taking out race five onboard Royal Bomb for trainer Caspar Fownes as well as recently named International Best Jockey James McDonald claiming victory partnered with Happy For All. Hugh Bowman closed out the meeting winning on Super Dynamite with Jamie Kah finishing second on Beauty Missile.