Golden Sixty takes Hong Kong Classic Mile

Golden Sixty extended his winning streak to five races with a victory in Monday’s $1.29 million Hong Kong Classic Mile for 4-year-olds at Sha Tin Racecourse, the first leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown.

Golden Sixty (4-5) stalked the pace while racing on the inside in the first half of the race. Jockey Vincent Ho guided Golden Sixty toward the outside with a quarter-mile remaining before Golden Sixty took the lead in the last furlong.

Golden Sixty won by 1 1/4 lengths over 3-1 More Than This, giving trainer Francis Liu a sweep of the first two positions. Champions Way (14-1) finished third in the field of nine.

Golden Sixty is expected to continue in the Triple Crown series through the $1.29 million Hong Kong Classic Cup at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 23 and the $2.57 million Hong Kong Derby at 1 1/4 miles on March 22.

The Hong Kong Classic Mile was the top race on the Lunar New Year program at Sha Tin, which was conducted before a greatly limited crowd. Hong Kong Jockey Club officials announced last week that because of the coronavirus outbreak in adjacent China attendance for the program would be restricted to owners and trainers and customers who had pre-booked tickets. Off-track betting shops through the Hong Kong region were also closed, forcing racing fans to bet via computers or telephones.

The restrictions will remain in place for Wednesday’s program at Happy Valley Racecourse, Hong Kong Jockey Club officials said on Monday.

Golden Sixty is an Australian-bred by Medaglia d’Oro. The Hong Kong Classic Mile was his first attempt at the distance. He raced at six or seven furlongs in his first seven starts.

Earlier on Monday’s program at Sha Tin, Exultant won his eighth group stakes in Hong Kong in the Group 3 Centenary Vase Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Ridden by Zac Purton, Exultant (3-2) took the lead in early stretch and won by 1 1/2 lengths over 9-1 Glorious Dragon. Trainer Tony Cruz said after the Centenary Vase that Exultant could be sent to Dubai on March 28 for the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic at 1 1/2 miles on turf.

Happy Valley

Gentle Breeze, a 5-year-old gelding who has won three of his last four starts, will face a class test in Wednesday’s $270,047 Stubbs Handicap at six furlongs at Happy Valley Racecourse.

Gentle Breeze has won 5 of 12 starts at Happy Valley and is winless in nine starts at Sha Tin. Trained by Ricky Yiu, Gentle Breeze has been racing at five furlongs against a lower class of handicap runners. The Stubbs Handicap will be Gentle Breeze’s first start at six furlongs since a third at the distance last June.

Matthew Chadwick will ride Gentle Breeze, who will carry 126 pounds, five fewer than topweight Gunnison. Leading rider Joao Moreira will ride Gunnison, who has raced at Sha Tin in the last year. Gunnison was third in a handicap at Happy Valley last February.

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