| The all-time leading prizemoney earner in global racing history has given Hong Kong race fans the thrill of a lifetime on one of the world’s biggest stages. |
| Golden Sixty, the Australian bred and sold superstar, had to overcome the outside barrier of 14 and a crack field to win a third Hong Kong International Mile and 10th lifetime Group One sending the sell-out Sha Tin crowd crazy. The locally based champion was forced to cover extra ground for much of the race before circling runners and bursting clear when asked by rider Vincent Ho. The acceleration was instant and the spritely eight-year-old put up a big margin before easing to the line for the most comprehensive of wins. “He’s a monster,” Ho said moments after the race. “When I asked him for an effort, he lengthened like I can’t believe – he’s still got that turn of foot.” “It’s crazy. It’s amazing. I got the three-wide cover where I wanted to be and he knows his racing now.” “He never travelled keen with me, he was relaxed all of the way and then when I asked him for an effort, he just gave me 100 percent,” Ho added. While owner Stanley Chan fought back tears and trainer Francis Lui and rider Ho heaped praise on their charge the Hutchins family back in Queensland sat back with great pride. The Hutchins’ Element Hill operation bred Golden Sixty and have followed his career along with millions of thoroughbred fans around the world. They sold the champion for $120,000 to Riversley Park and Enigma Farm at the 2017 Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Giving the family extra reason to celebrate is the fact Golden Sixty’s half sister will be offered at public auction next month under their Element Hill banner. The filly, a daughter of Wootton Bassett, is the latest yearling from the grand producing mare Gaudeamus. She is catalogued as Lot 704 and she will go under the hammer during the early stages of Day Four of the sale, Friday, January 12. A Group Two winner at Leopardstown and Listed winner at the Curragh, Gaudeamus was imported to Australia by Bob Scarborough’s Wood Nook Farm and was picked up by Josh Hutchins for $160,000 at the 2015 National Broodmare Sale when Wood Nook dispersed. Golden Sixty was in-utero at the time. As well as Golden Sixty the Distorted Humor mare has produced the stakes performers Rainbow Connection and Igitur. Gaudemus is a half sister to two stakes performers, one is a dam of a stakes winner, while two further half sisters have also gone on to produce stakes winners. Golden Sixty was one of five winners on the 10 race Sha Tin card to have been sold by Magic Millions as yearlings. The others were Gorgeous Win, Winning Data, Chiu Chow Spirit and Galaxy Patch. Winner: Golden Sixty Breeding: Medaglia d’Oro-Gaudeamus (Distorted Humor) Breeder: Asco International Pty Ltd Race: HKJC Hong Kong International Mile G1 (1600m) Sold for: $120,000 Sale: 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Vendor: Element Hill Buyer: Riversley Park/Enigma Farm Earnings: HK$165,850,600 (approx A$32 million) Owner: Stanley Chan Ka Leung Trainer: Francis Lui |
