Zero To 'Sixty' En Route To 15 In A Row

In a race where the final time was outside the standard of Class 3 handicap horses and well over a full second slower than what typical group-level milers put up, reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) employed a galactic late turn of speed to win for the 15th straight time and for the 18th time in 19 career starts, successfully defending his title in Sunday's G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile at Sha Tin Racecourse. The 6-year-old has not tasted defeat in almost 2 1/2 years and has now drawn to within two of the legendary Silent Witness (Aus)'s record 17-race winning streak. The next hurdle is the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in three weeks' time.

Wrangled back to last after leaving the widest berth in the field of seven, Golden Sixty, first-up since winning the G1 FWD Champions Mile in late April, fell into a good rhythm as Blake Shinn sent Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) through to lead through an opening 400 metres in :26.19 (standard :24.80), as Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) tracked from second. Positions were unchanged as Southern Legend took them into the final half-mile, having gone just :50.35 (standard :47.70) for the first 800, as Golden Sixty continued to race in a detached last.

The task at hand looked desperate midway on the turn, with the pace about to go in for the sprint home. But Vincent Ho, who always rides the gelding with supreme confidence, went for his mount in earnest at the top of the straight. He switched him to the grandstand side, was hand-ridden into the final furlong, went to Waikuku and fellow BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) at the 150 and edged clear to win cosily. Golden Sixty covered his final half-mile in a wicked :43.20, with a final 400 metres in an equally spectacular :21.59.

Golden Sixty now owns a record-equalling 18 Hong Kong wins, joining Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) and the aforementioned Silent Witness.

“He definitely wasn't at his best today and we're still building him up,” the winning rider said. “After this race he should be pretty close to his top form. We'll see how he pulls up and do some recovery work on him and get him ready for the Internationals.”

Golden Sixty had heretofore been allowed to do only the necessary in his morning trials, but had won no fewer than three of those heading into this comeback run.

“Golden Sixty's morning trackwork has been quite impressive, he's more mature than last season,” commented victorious trainer Francis Lui. “I discussed it with Vincent and he seemed happy with the training and how he was behaving at trackwork.”

pic.twitter.com/CbIyq1idgY

— Vincent Ho (@Vincenthocy) November 21, 2021

Pedigree Notes:

Bred in Kentucky by Manganaro LLC, Gaudeamus was purchased by Newmarket International from the Lane's End consignment for $60,000 at the 2005 Keeneland September sale. Trained by Jim Bolger for his wife Jackie, Gaudeamus posted her most important victory in the 2006 G2 Debutante S. at Leopardstown. Bred to the late Pivotal (GB) to Southern Hemisphere time in 2007, Gaudeamus produced her first foal, a colt, for Bob and Rosemary Scarborough's Wood Nook Farm in the Australian winter of 2008.

Gaudeamus was purchased for A$160,000 by Josh Hutchins Bloodstock carrying the foal that would become Golden Sixty at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. The mare's first Australian foal of note was Igitur, who went on to be third in the 2017 Listed Tasmanian Derby, and a few months later, Gaudeamus was bought back on a bid of A$75,000 in foal to Choisir at the National Broodmare Sale. That offspring, Rainbow Connection (Aus), was runner-up in the 2021 G3 Hawkesbury Guineas, and the decision to retain the mare looks sufficiently wise in retrospect.

Gaudeamus's yearling filly by Capitalist (Aus) sold to All Winners Thoroughbreds for A$425,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast sale. Gaudeamus missed to Trapeze Artist (Aus) for 2020 and was bred to Wootton Bassett (GB) late last month. This is also the female family of champion Bosra Sham (Woodman), her champion full-brother Hector Protector and French Classic winner Shanghai (Procida).

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
BOCHK PRIVATE WEALTH JOCKEY CLUB MILE-G2, HK$4,750,000 (£453,485/€540,386/A$842,728/US$609,666), Sha Tin, 11-21, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:34.55, gd.
1–GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS), 128, g, 6, by Medaglia d'Oro
1st Dam: Gaudeamus (GSW-Ire, $179,846), 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 (Qld); T-Francis Lui K W; J-Vincent Ho C Y; HK$2,707,500. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year, Ch. Middle Distance Horse, Ch. 4yo, Ch. Miler & MG1SW-HK, 19-18-0-0, HK$80,633,100. *1/2 to Igitur (Aus) (Helmet {Aus}), SP-Aus, $137,392; and Rainbow Connection (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), GSP-Aus. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Waikuku (Ire), 123, g, 6, Harbour Watch (Ire)–London Plane (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€33,000 Ylg '16 TISEP). O-Jocelyn Siu Yang Hin Ting; B-Shane Molan; T-John Size; J-Zac Purton; HK$1,045,000.
3–Sky Darci (NZ), 123, g, 5, Darci Brahma (NZ)–Strictly Maternal (NZ), by O'Reilly (NZ). (NZ$160,000 Ylg '18 NZBJAN). O-Jessica Kwan Mun Hang; B-M W Freeman & D G Price; T-Caspar Fownes; J-Joao Moreira; HK$546,250.
Margins: 1, 1HF, 1. Odds: 15-100, 14-1, 9-1.
Also Ran: More Than This (GB), Southern Legend (Aus), Champion's Way (Aus), Preciousship (Ire). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

Lucky Patch Train Rolls On In Jockey Club Sprint…

For the second straight time at group level, Lucky Patch (NZ) (El Roca {Aus}), bet down in the late stages, claimed the scalps of some higher-profile sprinters, punching his ticket to the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint with a mild upset in Sunday's G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint.

Computer Patch (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and favoured Courier Wonder (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) eyeballed one another early on, as the in-form Jerry Chau settled the outposted Lucky Patch, winner of the Oct. 17 G2 Premier Bowl H. when last seen, about midfield and racing mostly with cover through the opening 600 metres. Traveling with his head on his chest on the back of Premier Bowl runner-up Super Wealthy (Aus) (Epaulette {Aus}) around the turn, Lucky Patch went on the attack four off the inside in upper stretch, gathered up a wayward Courier Wonder with a half-furlong to race and held sway as the hulking Naboo Attack (Aus) (Warhead {Aus}) made belated progress down the centre. Sky Field (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) boxed on for third. The comebacking Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}), last year's G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize hero, raced near the back of the pack and came home seventh, beaten three lengths.

“It's my best win in Hong Kong,” said winning jockey Jerry Chau, who is a graduate of the HKJC Apprentice Jockeys' School like Vincent Ho. “We were lucky, they went fast early and I had a chance to get in and get cover. It's very exciting.”

Pedigree Notes:

Lucky Patch is one of three stakes winners, two at group level, for his sire, a son of Fastnet Rock (Aus) who stands at Westbury Stud in New Zealand. Gerry Harvey's Barramul Stud acquired Lucky Patch's dam in foal to Mossman (Aus) for A$50,000 at the 2011 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Gould is also the dam of Lucky Patch's 4-year-old full-sister Escudo (NZ), the 3-year-old filly Kattegat (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) and a yearling colt by the latter sire. She was bred back to El Roca.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
BOCHK PRIVATE BANKING JOCKEY CLUB SPRINT-G2, HK$4,750,000 (£453,485/€540,386/A$842,728/US$609,666), Sha Tin, 11-21, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:07.98, gd.
1–LUCKY PATCH (NZ), 123, g, 5, by El Roca (Aus)
1st Dam: Gould (Aus), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Charming (Aus), by Sir Tristram (Ire)
3rd Dam: Captivation (Aus), by Vain (Aus)
(A$40,000 Ylg '18 MMJUN). O-Patch Syndicate; B-G Harvey; T-Francis Lui KW; J-Jerry Chau C L; HK$2,707,500. Lifetime Record: 17-7-3-3, HK$14,106,540. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Naboo Attack (Aus), 123, g, 5, Warhead (Aus)–Commanding Queen (Aus), by Commands (Aus). O-Cheung Yeuk Lee; B-Windemere Stud (Qld); T-David Hayes; J-Zac Purton; HK$1,045,000.
3–Sky Field (Aus), 123, g, 5, Deep Field (Aus)–Laravissante (NZ), by O'Reilly (NZ). (NZ$175,000 Ylg '18 NZBJAN). O-Kwan Shiu Man, Jessica Kwan Mun Hang & Jeffrey Kwan Chun Ming; B-M Ryan (NSW); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Blake Shinn; HK$546,250.
Margins: 3/4, HF, 1. Odds: 9-2, 71-10, 29-5.
Also Ran: Computer Patch (Aus), Courier Wonder (NZ), Stronger (Aus), Wellington (Aus), Hot King Prawn (Aus), Super Wealthy (Aus), Amazing Star (NZ). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

Reliable Team All The Way In Jockey Club Cup…

The hard-knocking Reliable Team (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) was given a positive ride by HKJC Apprentice Jockeys' School grad Derek Leung, got away with obscenely slow sectionals and, unsurprisingly, had enough in the tank to cause a 16-1 upset in Sunday's G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup.

The complexion of the 10-furlong lead-up into the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup changed markedly when presumed pace player Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) missed the kick, allowing Reliable Team to bowl along through a Standardbred-like :27.47, prompting HKJC commentator Mark McNamara to point out that “the Shing Mun river is flowing faster” than the Cup field going past the 1400-metre point. It was at about that stage that Matthew Chadwick allowed Ka Ying Star, trying the 10 furlongs of this as opposed to the Mile, to stride up to be a more forward factor as the 800 metres was posted in :53.95. Niggled along into the final half-mile–the six furlong split was a nearly unbelievable 1:19.17–ReliableTeam sprinted when asked and kicked on gamely to just hold a late lunge from Ka Ying Star. Favoured Glorious Dragon (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) raced near the tail and closed off well for third, while second choice Panfield (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky) weakened to last after sitting up on whatever pace there was, though was beaten just 2 1/2 lengths.

“We were always trying to get him to lead in the race and he got a bit lucky, there was no pressure on us to go too quick,” Leung said. “So, the horse was quite relaxed and he's very fit. Step by step, we build the speed up. He responded very well and I think we were very lucky.”

Pedigree Notes:

Bought back when reserved for NZ$50,000 at the 2017 NZB Select Yearling Sale, Reliable Team improved by leaps and bounds to fetch NZ$430,000 at that year's NZB Ready To Run Sale (under-tack breeze, see below), the same event that produced Golden Sixty (NZ$300,000). Reliable Team is the 18th black-type winner and 13th group winner for Reliable Man, a son of Dalakhani (Ire) who stands alongside Lucky Patch's sire at Westbury Stud.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
BOCHK  JOCKEY CLUB CUP-G2, HK$4,750,000 (£453,485/€540,386/A$842,728/US$609,666), Sha Tin, 11-21, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:03.86, gd.
1–RELIABLE TEAM (NZ), 123, g, 6, by Reliable Man (GB)
1st Dam: Stella Doro (NZ), by Faltaat
2nd Dam: Lady Joelyn (NZ), by Noble Bijou
3rd Dam: Princess Camille (NZ), by Skyhawk (GB)
1ST STAKES WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. (NZ$50,000 RNA Ylg '17 NZBFEB; NZ$430,000 2yo '17 NZBRTR). O-Nova Stella Syndicate; B-Tullycrine Ltd; T-Frankie Lor F C; J-Derek Leung K C; HK$2,707,500. Lifetime Record: 28-7-3-5, HK$12,765,800. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ka Ying Star (GB), 123, g, 6, Cityscape (GB)–Casual Glance (GB), by Sinndar (Ire). O-Leung Shek Kong; B-Kingsclere Stud; T-Tony Cruz A S; J-Matthew Chadwick; HK$1,045,000.
3–Glorious Dragon (Ire), 123, g, 6, Teofilo (Ire)–Tipperary Honor (Fr), by Highest Honor (Fr). (€235,000 Ylg '16 ARQOCT). O-LWF Family Syndicate; B-Team Hogdala AB; T-Francis Lui K W; J-Zac Purton; HK$546,250.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, NO. Odds: 16-1, 28-5, 9-10.
Also Ran: Columbus County (NZ), Russian Emperor (Ire), Savvy Nine (Fr), Panfield (Chi). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.