Hong Kong: Golden Sixty, California Spangle tune up for clash in Champions Mile

A sleepy Saturday card at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong is a mere warm-up for next weekend’s major racing card.

The Group 1, $3.19 million Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 2,000 meters, the Group 1, $2.55 million Champions Mile, and the Group 1, $2.55 million Champions Sprint headline racing on April 24 at Sha Tin. The program will unfortunately be diminished by a lack of international shippers owing to the difficult COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong.

The Champions Mile, run at level weights, pits older Hong Kong star Golden Sixty against California Spangle, who faces older rivals after contesting all three legs of the 4-year-old Classic Series. California Spangle finished second in the Classic Mile, won the Classic Cup over 1,800 meters, and was second in the 2,000-meter Hong Kong Derby. The turn back to 1,600 meters helps California Spangle. Whether he’s up for a fight with Golden Sixty is another question. California Spangle, trained by Tony Cruz, tuned up for the Champions Mile with Tuesday dirt barrier trial (training race) on Tuesday, going wire to wire while not asked for any run by jockey Zac Purton. Showing his competitive spirit, California Spangle refused even to be passed on the gallop-out.

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Golden Sixty, Hong Kong’s best horse, ended the first two-race losing streak of his career April 3 with a sharp two-length win in the Chairman’s Trophy. Tuesday, he worked 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs) in 1:27.

Romantic Warrior, winner of the Hong Kong Derby and the Classic Mile, finished second in a Tuesday barrier trial preparing to face older horses in the QE II Cup.

Four Class 3 handicaps are the highest-level fare on this Saturday’s ten-race card, which starts at 1 a.m. Eastern. Live video and wagering are available at DRFBets.com.