HONG Kong’s champion racehorse Golden Sixty bounced back to his dominating form when he won the Group 1 Stewards’ Cup over a mile at Sha Tin last Sunday and, in doing so, avenged his recent defeat by California Spangle at the big international meeting.

Golden Sixty could now be bound for the international stage as trainer Francis Lui and jockey Vincent Ho plot future targets for Hong Kong’s champion.

Golden Sixty unleashed a trademark sprint to get the better of the two younger pretenders to his throne in Romantic Warrior and California Spangle.

He extended his record for the most Hong Kong wins (23 from 27 starts), while boosting his prize money to HK$129,690,600.

Beaten in the 2022 Stewards’ Cup by Waikuku when attempting to equal Silent Witness’ streak of 17 consecutive wins, Golden Sixty reemerged in smooth style here as Ho stalked leader Zac Purton on California Spangle, and followed Karis Teetan and Romantic Warrior.

Purton took California Spangle through a steady first three furlongs in 49.12s, Ho bided his time before Teetan struck first as the trio rounded the home turn, urging dual Group 1 winner Romantic Warrior to challenge California Spangle.

Behind California Spangle, Ho angled Golden Sixty into the clear inside the final furlong and accelerated sharply as the other two weakened, coming away to score by a length.

The remarkable seven-year-old swept over the final half mile in a fast 44.63s for an overall time of 1m 33.99s.

There was a three and a half-length gap from California Spangle to dual Stewards’ Cup winner Waikuku in fourth in what may be one of the world’s top-rated mile races for the year.

Elated

Ho was elated at securing Golden Sixty’s seventh Group 1 and second Stewards’ Cup triumph after a contest which lived up to pre-race hype.

“I’m just very happy for Golden Sixty. The team did great work after the last race and to come back to his optimum fitness was great,” Ho said, referring to the gelding’s runner-up performance behind California Spangle in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile on December 11th.

“I still believe that he is one of the best horses at a mile - you still have to respect our opponents - but I have to trust my horse. He was very comfortable and this year he has not pulled, so when he jumped very well, he still dropped the bit and made it even easier for me to handle him and decide what position I wanted to get.

“If I wanted him to be faster, he will be and if I drop my reins, he will relax. So, when Zac picked the pace up at the half mile, he (Golden Sixty) still followed through very nicely without any effort. I think Golden Sixty still has the best turn of foot out of the three.”

The win was sufficient for Ho and Lui to consider international options or to instead target the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (10 furlongs) at Sha Tin on February 26th.

“I still would like to go (overseas) but we will see how he pulls out,” Lui said. “I had a little bit of confidence before the race.”

Golden Sixty had been entered for the Group 1 Dubai Turf (nine furlongs at Meydan on March 25th) with consideration also given to the Group 1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo on June 4h.

“We have to see how he pulls out and we’ll discuss with the team. We have entered the Dubai 1800 on turf as well, so that’s another thought.

I think it’s a good race for him and it can be a ‘prep’ race for him if we go to Japan because it’s left-handed and he can get used to the heat and all that,” Ho said. “There are a few options for us.”

Reporting Leo Schlink