Hong Kong: Golden Sixty catches California Spangle in Jockey Club Mile

Golden Sixty shone brightest but Romantic Warrior also dazzled on a three-stakes Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.

Racing for the first time since April, 7-year-old Golden Sixty gave five pounds to 4-year-old California Spangle, who came into the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile on Sunday an eight-time winner from 11 starts, the two most recent coming this fall while Golden Sixty trained toward his season’s debut. Front-running California Spangle made the easiest of leads, set a walking pace, and quickened beautifully after turning into the Sha Tin homestretch, closing his final 400 meters in 21.60 seconds.

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And it still wasn’t enough. Taken back to sixth in a seven-horse field, Golden Sixty ran his third 400 meters, going around Sha Tin’s far turn, in 22.95 seconds, tipped widest under jockey Vincent Ho cornering for the wire, and with absolute determination ran down California Spangle to win by a neck. He got his final 400 meters in 21.32 seconds while posting his 22nd win from 25 starts.

Golden Sixty, trainer Francis Lui said, came into the Jockey Club Mile far from peak fitness. Lui expects improvement next month as Golden Sixty tries to win his third straight Group 1 Hong Kong Mile, and a stronger performance likely will be required with several very classy Japanese horses expected to show up.

Golden Sixty is by Medaglia d’Oro out of Gaudeamus, by Distorted Humor. Bred in Australia, he has raced exclusively in Hong Kong – one of the best horses ever to campaign there.

Romantic Warrior is a rising star himself. The best 4-year-old of the 2021-22 season – better even than California Spangle – Romantic Warrior had his 2022-23 debut delayed by a relatively minor injury and still posted a 1 1/4-length score going 2,000 meters in the Jockey Club Cup, a prep for the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup, the richest race on the Hong Kong International Races card next month.

Caught wide without cover for most of the first turn, Romantic Warrior eventually found a good spot tracking the pace from fourth. Cruising home in 22.83 seconds for his final 400 meters, Romantic Warrior comfortably bested runner-up Tourbillon Diamond, who got a five-pound weight break, already had started this season, and worked out a better trip than did winner.

Clifford Shum trains Romantic Warrior, an Ireland-bred 4-year-old by Acclamation out of Folk Melody, by Street Cry, who now has won seven from eight, his lone defeat entirely excusable. James McDonald picked up the mount Sunday with regular rider Karis Teetan still working his way back to race-riding after being diagnosed with a thyroid condition in September.

Lucky Sweynesse was a fine winner in his own right landing the Jockey Club Sprint by a narrow margin over Lucky Patch. Under Zac Purton, Lucky Sweynesse whistled his final 800 meters in 43.62 while racing for the third time this season and winning his first stakes. A 4-year-old bred on Southern Hemisphere time in New Zealand, Lucky Sweyness is by Sweynesse out of Madonna Mia, by Red Clubs. He’s trained by Manfred Man and is bound for the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint next month.

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