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| Sumita Pawar |
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Golden Sixty showed his usual enthusiasm during his morning workout at Sha Tin on Monday, 4th December, ahead of what could be his final appearance at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races. Trainer Francis Lui watched from his usual spot in the trainers' stand as former jockey Alex Yu, Golden Sixty's regular work rider, put the 8YO through his paces. The horse warmed up in the sand ring and on the inner dirt course before eagerly taking to the main dirt course for a key gallop, clocking a time of 25.7s over 400m.
Golden Sixty is aiming to become only the second horse to win the HK$32 million Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile three times, following in the footsteps of Good Ba Ba, after his victories in 2020 and 2021.
“He’s good. Everything is fine, it’s smooth and he’s improved with each barrier trial he’s had. His condition is very good now,” Lui said. “They’re all very happy – Vincent (Ho) and the whole team.”
On Sunday, the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile will mark the start of Golden Sixty's sixth racing season. With jockey Vincent Ho, he will be competing against rivals from Japan, Ireland, France, and Singapore in front of a supportive home crowd. This will be his first race in 224 days, but with 25 wins out of 29 starts, he is sure to put up a good fight.
“He likes to run fresh. His form and even this morning, he’ll have a turf gallop on Thursday (7 December). It’s been a long time, it’s a tough field, especially the Japanese horses. Hopefully he stays away from trouble and gets a clean run,” Lui said.
Golden Sixty has been victorious in all five of his seasonal reappearances, but he has yet to compete at the Group One level against foreign challengers. In his most recent return race, the Medaglia d'Oro gelding defeated California Spangle at the Group Two level, but in the 2022 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, that same horse surprisingly turned the tables on him.
Despite only having a few starts this season, Golden Sixty is expected to retire in Japan, having already earned HK$147.93 million in prize money and secured nine Group One victories.
“We’re just focused on the big race. We don’t know though – let the horse tell me (when it’s time to retire). I think so (last Hong Kong International Races) – he’s done his job,” Lui said.
This weekend, Golden Sixty will be competing against 13 rivals, including California Spangle, Beauty Eternal, Serifos, Soul Rush, Tribalist, Voyage Bubble, Cairo, Encountered, and Namur.