‘He means the world to me’ – Hong Kong hero Golden Sixty delivers record win
On the biggest day in Hong Kong racing, there was an outpouring of support for one of their own as Golden Sixty proved imperious to claim the Longines Hong Kong Mile.
The local hero was forced to contend with traffic in his bid to land back-to-back victories in the race under Vincent Ho, but battled through the field to land an astonishing 16th win in a row for trainer Francis Lui and his 19th from 20 starts.
More Than This produced a late push to claim second ahead of Salios, with 1,000 Guineas winner Mother Earth finishing strongly in fourth.
“I feel very happy, he’s my champion and I have to say thank you to my team and Vincent and the owner – they support me,” Lui said.
“It’s all about him,” Ho said after the one-and-three-quarter length success. “The whole team did a really great job and I’m so thankful. Draw two was a little bit tricky and I never really like to be on the inside, but we all know he’s brave enough to go through horses as well.
“It was much better today because the pace was on, he actually relaxed very well and as a six-year-old he’s more mature.
“He means the world to me. Without him I wouldn’t be here, or have won the QEII on Loves Only You. He’s brought me a lot of great opportunities and Group races.”
In claiming his 19th career success, Golden Sixty landed a Hong Kong record and has suffered just one defeat in his three-year career, when finishing tenth over seven furlongs in July 2019.
The six-year-old has never raced outside Sha Tin, where his winning record includes four Group 1 titles and being crowned last year’s Hong Kong Horse of the Year.
His career earnings are now only behind Beauty Generation in the history of racing in Hong Kong.
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Loves Only You bows out at the top in Japanese one-two in Hong Kong Cup
Yuga Kawada had to bide his time on the hot favourite early in the home straight before coming late to shade Hishi Iguazi to give the Japanese a one-two in the 1m2f contest.
Kawada said: “I’m really proud. She jumped well but the pace was a bit slow. She relaxed well and then I was able to get a good position.
“She’s given me two big presents. She’s the best female horse I’ve ever ridden. I hope she will be a good mother.”
Local runner Russian Emperor, who struck for home early in the straight, weakened to finish third just ahead of Dubai Honour, who fared best of the European runners in fourth.
The William Haggas-trained runner, who had finished second in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot on his previous start, overcame traffic problems of his own before finishing with a flourish and would have been third in another couple of strides.
Haggas said: “Dubai Honour ran a really good race and he was just a bit unfortunate with how the race unfolded, which often happens there. When he got out and hit his stride he really came home well. This trip will have taught him a lot and hopefully we’ll have a smart international performer on our hands next year.”
Also in the 12-runner line-up for the world’s richest 1m2f race (£2.8 million) were Irish pair Bolshoi Ballet and Mac Swiney.
After making a bold move to take up the running in the back straight, Bolshoi Ballet weakened in the straight to finish ninth for Ryan Moore, while Mac Swiney came home last.
Loves Only You, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, was backing up her equally thrilling win in the Grade 1 Filly & Mare Turf at the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar in November and had also scored at Group 1 level at Sha Tin in April.
Glory Vase reigns supreme in Hong Kong Vase with Pyledriver a valiant second
Winner of the Group 1 contest in 2019, the Japanese runner scored by a length from the William Muir and Chris Grassick-trained Pyledriver under a perfectly timed ride by Joao Moreira.
While Pyledriver’s early attack down the home straight under Martin Dwyer initially looked enough to repel the driving charge of Glory Vase, he was unable to hold on for victory in what was his first international start after suffering a setback during the summer.
Dual Group 2 winner Ebaiyra, bidding to give retiring trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre a final top-flight success, was two and a half lengths back in third, with last year’s winner Mogul sixth of the eight runners under Ryan Moore.
Moreira said: “Everything went as I expected. I got a smooth run on to the fence, saving ground. I just made sure I got him into the clear as I know he’s a very strong horse at the finish, and there was not a fight. He has proven to be the best horse today.”
Trained by Tomohito Ozeki, Glory Vase now has two successes from three starts at Sha Tin, having also finished a close second to Loves Only You – later to win the Cup on the same card – in the QEII Cup in April.
Sent off favourite to reclaim his 2019 title, Glory Vase was having his first start since September, when he finished third in a Group 2 at Nakayama.
2021 Hong Kong Vase full result
Sky Field wins Hong Kong Sprint
Sky Field claimed top honours in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint after a horrific four-horse incident midway through the race.
The Caspar Fownes-trained runner snatched victory by three-quarters of a length in a tightly packed finish from Resistencia, with Courier Wonder in third.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club reported that jockeys Zac Purton, Yuichi Fukunaga and Lyle Hewitson were conscious and had been taken to hospital after the incident on the turn for home, where Amazing Star fell, bringing down Naboo Attack, Pixie Knight and the favourite Lucky Patch.
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by RacingPost
