Francis Lui

A pair of American-bred 3-year-olds are among a field of six entered for Sunday's Yau Ma Tei Plate, the season's first race restricted to 'griffins' going the 1000-meter trip down the straight course at Sha Tin Racecourse. A griffin is defined as a 2-year-old or 3-year-old horse which has been imported into Hong Kong without having raced previously. The better-fancied of the two colts, each trained by second-leading and BMW Hong Kong Derby-winning conditioner Francis Lui, is Sunny Star (Flatter), who was trading overnight as the 19-5 third choice. Bred...

Coronavirus has had a major affect on horse racing all across the globe, forcing the temporary abandonment of racing in a handful of prominent racing states in America, as well as Britain, France, hard-hit Italy and South Korea, while other places soldier on in front of empty grandstands. Hong Kong lies roughly 700 miles due south of Wuhan, the widely accepted epicentre of the virus's outbreak, but owing to aggressive action by the government and a populace that adhered strictly to preventive measures, racing has been allowed to continue in...

by Alan Carasso Neither a minor temperature nor Sunday's 1800-metre trip proved a task too tall for the talented Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), who was the recipient of a thinking-man's ride from the up-and-coming Vincent Ho and showed his customary electric turn of foot to add the Hong Kong Classic Cup to his prior victory in the Hong Kong Classic Mile. Now just once-beaten in 10 trips to the races, Golden Sixty can join the late Rapper Dragon (Aus) (Street Boss) as the only horses in history to sweep...

A field of 10 4-year-olds bred in either hemisphere line up for Sunday's HK$10-million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), a field in which the top-rated galloper has some questions to answer and is likely to play second fiddle--at least from a pari-mutuel standpoint-to a stable companion. Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) is rated on 112 entering this middle leg of the 4YO Classic series, having posted eight wins from his nine trips to the post to date. He is perfect in five runs this season, including a defeat of more...

by Alan Carasso Dispatched the $1.80 (5-4 on) favourite to run his lifetime record to eight wins from nine runs, Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) took off once in the clear in upper stretch and whooshed home to best his Francis Lui stablemate More Than This (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) by a comfortable 1 1/4 lengths. The early sections of the Classic Mile were run at a muddling pace, and that caused the likes of Star Performance (NZ) (Per Incanto) and the well-backed Beauty Legacy (Aus) (Fiorente {Ire}) to overrace...

by Alan Carasso A trio of 100-plus rated 4-year-old heads to the post for Monday's first leg of the Classic series in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Classic Mile. Two of those have already achieved the rare feat of defeating more seasoned gallopers at group level, including the very progressive Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro). One of a pair of entrants from the on-fire Francis Lui yard, the gelded son of Gaudeamus (Distorted Humor) has won eight from nine, including a commanding two-length tally in the G3 Chinese Club Challenge...

Enjoying the benefit of a feathery 116 pounds while making his black-type debut in Wednesday's G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup H. at Sha Tin, Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) easily and impressively validated odds-on favouritism against older rivals in this steppingstone to the Hong Kong Classic Mile versus fellow 4-year-olds Jan. 27. The mount of leading homegrown rider Vincent Ho, Golden Sixty took up a spot in the latter third of the field as Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) galloped them along up front as is his wont. Quietly...