| Golden Sixty and Wellington confirmed their places as Hong Kong’s Champion Miler and Sprinter with brilliant Group One wins on Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday. |
| On one of Hong Kong’s biggest days, Magic Millions sold runners sparkled – winning two of the big Group Ones and finishing second in the other! It was billed as a match race with boom four-year-old California Spangle, but in the end it was Golden Sixty confirming he was king with an arrogant win in the Group One Chairman’s Mile (1600m). In winning his 21st race from 24 starts, Golden Sixty made history – he’s now the highest earning horse in Hong Kong racing history. His current haul for connections if over HK$113 million (approx A$19.9 million). Rider Vincent Ho had Golden Sixty handy in the big mile, tracking his main market opponent, but when called upon in the straight the son of Medaglia d’Oro accelerated brilliantly. Golden Sixty coasted home two lengths clear in a truly dominant performance. “He travelled very conformably,” Ho said post race. “But when Zac (Purton, California Spangle) steadied the pace a little bit (mid-race) he started to travel a bit keen.” “I’m glad he was strong enough and brave enough to push the gap open and then run them down easily.” Connections of Golden Sixty have accepted an invite to head to Japan and run in one of the world’s toughest races, the Yasuda Kinen in early June. Trainer Francis Lui will monitor his champion and see how he pulls up before locking in the Tokyo 1600 metre contest. The result provided another triumph to the Hutchins family who own and operate the leading Queensland thoroughbred nursery Element Hill. Element Hill bred and sold Golden Sixty for $120,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he was purchased by Riversley Park in conjunction with Enigma Farm. Josh Hutchins purchased Golden Sixty’s dam Gaudeamus for $160,000 from Wood Nook Farm at the 2015 National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast. At the time of her purchase by Element Hill she was in foal to El Prado’s Group One winning and producing sire son Medaglia d’Oro – the resultant foal none other than Golden Sixty. Earlier in the afternoon the outstanding short course performer Wellington won his third Group One when victorious in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m). Positioned in about fourth and fifth place for much of the race, the son of All Too Hard came with a strong surge under Alexis Badel in the straight for a strong win. “When you ride such a good horse it makes the life as a jockey a lot easier,” Badel said. “All credit to the training team – Richard and his team, he’s not the easiest horse to train.” Trainer Richard Gibson said he was proud of the effort of Wellington. “What a wonderful day to have the owners here,” Gibson said. “It’s so much better to have some people on course to see these horses on such a big day.” “He really is one of the top sprinters in the world. It’s difficult to win these big Group One races back to back – but he’s done it!” Wellington was a $70,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale buy for the O’Brien family’s Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm. He was educated in Victoria and showed high class ability when based at John McArdle’s Redgum Racing before being sold privately to Hong Kong. As it now stands Wellington boasts 10 wins and a second placing from just 16 starts and he’s earned connections the equivalent of A$7 million. Wellington was purchased by James O’Brien from the draft of Kia Ora Stud who bred the star sprinter in partnership with David Paradise and Steve McCann. He is the first foal of his dam Mihiri, a Sydney winner and group performed daughter of More Than Ready. Before being retired to stud she ran third in the Group Two Breeders Classic at Rosehill behind Catkins and Lilliburlero. Meanwhile, Tourbillon Diamond, who was a Group One performer in Australia as Eric the Eel, ran a blinder in the day’s other Group One, when second in the QEII Cup (2000m). In beating home all but recent Derby hero Romantic Warrior, Tourbillon Diamond added an outstanding black type effort at the elite level during a high class career. He was a $7,000 National Yearling Sale buy for his former connections from the draft of Arrowfield Stud, before selling privately in a deal brokered by Magic Millions to well known industry identity Apollo Ng in May 2020. Winner: Golden Sixty Breeding: Medaglia d’Oro-Gaudeamus (Distorted Humor) Race: HKJC The Champions Mile G1 (1600m) Breeder: Asco International Pty Ltd Sold for: $120,000 Sale: 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Vendor: Element Hill Buyer: Riversley Park/Enigma Farm Earnings: HK$113,400,600 (approx A$19.94 million) Owner: Stanley Chan Ka Leung Trainer: Francis Lui Winner: Wellington Breeding: All Too Hard-Mihiri (More Than Ready) Breeders: Kia Ora Stud Pty Ltd, David Paradise & Steve McCann Race: HKJC The Chairman’s Sprint Prize G1 (1200m) Sold for: $70,000 Sale: 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Vendor: Kia Ora Stud Buyer: Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm Earnings: HK$40,056,190 (approx A$7 million) Owners: Mr & Mrs Michael Cheng Wing On & Jeffrey Cheng Man Cheong Trainer: Richard Gibson |
