Hong Kong: Golden Sixty extends winning streak to 15 with Jockey Club Mile

No one is going to beat Golden Sixty in a one-mile Hong Kong race if the gelding is going to run like he did Sunday at Sha Tin. Making his first start since April 25, Golden Sixty ran his last 400 meters just about as fast as is possible for a Thoroughbred, landing the Group 2, $610,000 Jockey Club Mile by one length.

In fact, no one has beaten Golden Sixty at any distance he’s tried since he finished 10th in his fourth career start back in July 2019. Golden Sixty has won the 18 other times he’s raced and, after Sunday’s breathtaking performance, his winning streak stands at 15. Heavily favored Sunday, Golden Sixty’s prospects for winning a second straight Hong Kong Mile on Dec. 12 appear especially strong since connections believe their charge wasn’t fully tightened for this start.

“He definitely wasn’t at his best today and we’re still building him up. After this race he should be pretty close to his top form,” said Vincent Ho, the only race rider Golden Sixty has known.

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Golden Sixty won his last three starts during the 2020-21 Hong Kong season by a two heads and a nose, and he had every right to suffer his first defeat in more than two years Sunday after racing last behind a walking pace.

Southern Legend ran his first 800 meters in 50.14 seconds as Golden Sixty galloped along more than six lengths behind the leader, but Golden Sixty, compared to many of his starts, relaxed for Ho, bounding along comfortably, awaiting his cue. The tempo quickened strongly into the race’s one turn, at which point Golden Sixty warmed to the task. He flew through the 400 meters between the 800-meter marker and the 400-meter marker in 21.69 seconds, and, coming wide, bore down on the leaders, reached them with 200 meters to run, and blasted home in an auspicious beginning to his 2021-22 campaign. Final time for the 1,600 meters was 1:34.55, with Waikuku, improving in his second start this season, holding second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of third-place Sky Darci.

“Golden Sixty’s morning trackwork has been quite impressive,” trainer Francis Lui told Hong Kong Jockey Club publicity staff. “He’s more mature than last season.”

Six-year-old Golden Sixty is by Medaglia d’Oro out of Gaudeamus, by Distorted Humor, a very American-leaning pedigree.

Lui won a second Group 2, $610,000 stakes Sunday as Lucky Patch took down the Jockey Club Sprint by three quarters of a length over Naboo Attack.

Lucky Patch ran 1,200 meters in 1:07.98 under jockey Jerry Chau. Sky Field finished third as favored Courier Wonder battled for the lead and faded to fifth. Chau, a 21-year-old who only recently lost his apprenticeship, got the ride on Lucky Patch when Zac Purton chose Naboo Attack, and Chau gave his mount an ideal trip despite breaking from post 10.

Stalking the pace from the two path. Lucky Patch was pulled wide at the top of the homestretch, pouncing on the tiring leaders and holding off a solid challenge from Naboo Attack, who had come from last.

Both horses are sure to return Dec. 12 in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint, where Lucky Patch, a 5-year-old gelding by El Roca out of Gould, by Danehill Dancer, will seek his third straight win.

The pace in the Group 2, $610,000 Jockey Club Cup, a prep for the Dec. 12 Hong Kong Cup over this same distance and the 2,400-meter Hong Kong Vase, turned even more tepid than the one in the Jockey Club Mile. Front-running Reliable Team reaped the benefits, posting a 17-1 upset under Derek Leung.

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Ka Ying Star missed the break but made a mid-race move to track the leader from second, nearly catching Reliable Team in the final strides, his surge falling a nose short. Favored Glorious Dragon finished third, his chances compromised by racing too far behind a tortoise’s tempo, while second choice Panfield could not quicken from a stalking position and checked in last of seven in a puzzling performance. Winning time for the 2,000 meters a slow 2:03.86.

Trained by Frankie Lor, Reliable Team had won only once in his last 16 starts. A 6-year-old gelding by Reliable Man out of Stella Doro, out of Faltat, Reliable Team is more likely to start in the Vase than the Cup next month, according to Lor, who won three races Sunday.

One of Lor’s other two winners was Master Eight, unbeaten in four starts after blitzing a Class 2 handicap field going a straight 1,000 meters. Master Eight’s first three wins, in a Class 4 and two Class 3 handicaps, came around a turn in 1,200-meter starts, but the 4-year-old had no trouble adapting to new circumstances Sunday. Pressing the pace, Master Eight comfortably took the measure of favored 4-year-old Nervous Witness, pulling clear for a 1 3/4-length score.