Making his first start since winning the G1 Champions Mile some 224 days ago and his first start as an 8-year-old from the widest barrier in a full field of 14, three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS) (g, 8, Medaglia d'Oro–Gaudeamus, by Distorted Humor) turned in arguably the most dominating performance of an incredible career to win the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile for the third time Sunday at Sha Tin. Sent away as the 13-10 favourite despite all that was against him, Golden Sixty was one of the first to break the line and Vincent Ho–the only rider he's ever known–was able to get down into the three-wide line and had cover on the back of Japan's Danon the Kid (Jpn) (Just a Way {Aus}) as Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}) led from California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Going well approaching the lane, Golden Sixty was switched off heels, quickly gobbled up the front-runners and broke clear to the cheers of a packed Sha Tin grandstand. Golden Sixty, winning a 10th Group 1 race and his 25th from 30 career starts, joins Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan) as three-time winners of the Mile.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG MILE-G1, HK$36,000,000, Sha Tin, 12-10, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:34.10, gd.
1–GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS), 126, g, 8, by Medaglia d'Oro
1st Dam: Gaudeamus (GSW-Ire, $179,486), by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Leo's Lucky Lady, by Seattle Slew
3rd Dam: Konafa, by Damascus
(A$120,000 Ylg '17 MMGCYS; NZ$300,000 2yo '17 NZBRTR). O-Stanley Chan Ka Leung; B-Asco International Pty Ltd; T-Francis Lui; J-Vincent Ho; HK$17,920,000. Lifetime Record: 3x Horse of the Year, 2x Ch. Miler, Ch. Middle Distance Horse & Ch. 4yo-HK, 2 30-26-2-1, HK$165,840,600. *1/2 to Igitur (Aus) (Helmet {Aus}), SP-Aus; and Rainbow Connection (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), GSP-Aus $139,595. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Voyage Bubble (Aus), 126, g, 5, Deep Field (Aus)–Raheights (Aus), by Rahy. (A$380,000 Ylg '20 INGFEB). O-Sunshine and Moonlight Syndicate; B-Torryburn Stud (NSW); T-Ricky Yiu; J-James McDonald; HK$6,720,000.
3–Namur (Jpn), 122, f, 4, Harbinger (GB)–Sambre et Meuse (Jpn), by Daiwa Major (Jpn). O-Carrot Farm Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm; T-Tomokazo Takano; J-William Buick; HK$3,680,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 13-10, 30-1, 12-1.
Also Ran: Soul Rush (Jpn), Beauty Joy (Aus), Beauty Etenal (Aus), Serifos (Jpn), Encountered (Ire), Lim's Kosciuszko (Aus), Cairo (Ire), Divina (Jpn), Danon the Kid (Jpn), California Spangle (Ire), Tribalist (GB). Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.
SIMPLY. THE. BEST. 😳😳😳
Golden Sixty wins a third Hong Kong Mile, overcoming gate 14 to triumph for @Vincenthocy and Francis Lui… @LONGINES | #HKIR | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/eYx8M1e4aN
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 10, 2023
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