MULTIPLE Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty will attempt to land a fourth consecutive win in the Group 1 FWD Champions Mile (9am) at Sha Tin tomorrow.

Hong Kong’s champion horse became the first to complete a Champions Mile hat-trick in 2021, 2022 and 2023. He returns for his second run this season after claiming the HK$32 million Group 1 Hong Kong Mile last December.

“The barrier draw (7 of 11) isn’t a worry, only the weather will be. Now, he’s very professional and he looks after himself. I think his condition has come up just in time,” his trainer Francis Lui said this week.

The now eight-year-old Golden Sixty is Hong Kong’s most prolific winner in history, winning 26 out of 30 starts. He is the only horse to win 10 Group 1 races in the city and is the only three-time consecutive Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2020/’21, 2021/’22 and 2022/’23).

Golden Sixty is the one to beat despite the long absence, his training is reported to have been going smoothly.

British interest comes from Archie Watson’s Doha winner Brave Emperor under Luke Morris. Also a French group winner, he has a bit to find here though.

Galaxy Patch is the possible surprise package. With last time out defeats by Massive Sovereign over 10 furlongs and California Spangle over seven, he has the class and touch of speed to be a factor.

Beauty Joy might come into it strongly if it rains. He was a Group 2 winner last start. Japan’s Elton Barows is also not dismissed on the form of his fourth to narrow Dubai Turf second Namur in the Group 1 Mile Championship last November.

Chairman’s Sprint Prize

Coming off his win in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Meydan, California Spangle will be a deserved favourite and tough to beat in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (7.50am). One concern is the early speed, as the danger is Invincible Sage, drawn inside him, who could easily take advantage of a hot tempo. He’s still progressing and his two placings at group race level could see him take a big step forward. Victor The Winner is another speed runner and could press forward so the early furlongs could be decisive.

Harry Bentley rides last season’s Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes third Believing, on his first run of the season for George Boughey.

The Group 1 FWD QEII Cup, (9.40am), has a real international feel with William Haggas sending Australian Group 1 winner Dubai Honour to take on Hong Kong star and Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior while the new player is the former Aidan O’Brien-trained Massive Sovereign, then named Broadhurst, while North Bridge is a Japanese group race winner.

Romantic Warrior is seeking an unprecedent third win in the race and sure to be fighting out the finish once more.

Massive Sovereign was an impressive winner of the BMW Hong Kong Derby and he’s worth taking a chance to build on that.

Straight Arron ran well to finish sixth, beaten four and a quarter-lengths in the Group 1 Dubai Turf on his last start in Dubai. He continues to improve and his best efforts give him a chance.

Dubai Honour won Kempton’s Magnolia Stakes in convincing fashion and is well up to winning this on his best form under Tom Marquand.