Dennis Bosch-trained filly Le Premiere was the second of three winners for underrated stallion Visioanire at the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly meeting on Monday this week. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Visionaire Meeting Treble Highlights Underrated Status

Visionaire has for a long time been one of the most underrated stallions in South Africa and is proving so again as he has one of the most exciting three-year-olds in the country, the Frank Robinson-trained Sovereign State.

This Sandown Stud-bred gelding cruised to his third win in three starts on Monday on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly.

For good measure two other Visionaires won at the meeting, the Klawervlei Stud-bred Michael Roberts-trained four-year-old gelding Zabadak and the promising Wood-Moore Manor Stud Dennis Bosch-trained three-year-old filly Le Premiere.

Meeting trebles for stallions are few and far between.

Yet Turf Talk had to do some detective work to track down the whereabouts of Visionaire today.

And it looks like the USA-bred Grand Slam stallion has found the perfect farm for a sire who can be called good but not fashionable.

He is standing at Schalkie van der Walt’s Gelykfontein Stud in the Karoo.

He is getting plenty of support there, because there is not a plethora of local stallions to choose from for Karoo breeders.

Schalkie said, “He has six foals already and they look very nice.”

He said of his own 24 mares, he will send about 14 or 15 to Visionaire.

Schalkie looks to see how nice the foal is before deciding whether to send a mare back to a stallion.

One of the mares Visionaire received last season, and who has just foaled a filly, is the former Sean Tarry-trained Ecstatic Green, who won the Gr 2 Debutante Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville by 2,40 lengths, having earlier finished a narrow second in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship. The winner of the latter race was Vercingetorix filly Vernichey, who was later sold for big bucks to Australia. Ecstatic Green denied the crack champion filly War Of Athena second place, beating her by 0,70 lengths.

Schalkie is glad Ecstatic Green did not win the Allan Robertson, because it enabled him to buy her back on last year’s Sean Tarry Fast Track Sale, albeit for R675,000.

Ecstatic Geen’s mother, Ashtontown mare Ecstatic, has just foaled a colt by Visionaire.

Ecstatic has also previously produced the black type runner Sea Shadow, a four-time winner who finished runner up in the Gr 2 Ipi Tombe Challenge as well as third in the Gr 3 Three Troikas. Ecstatic’s third dam is the matriarch Soho Secret, which means she is from the family of a prolific number of top performers, including London News and Master Of My Fate.

The seven time-winning Gimmethegreenlight mare Fours A Crowd has also just foaled a nice Visionaire filly.

Schalkie himself sent five Gimmethegreenlight mares in all to Visionaire, two of whom have foaled already.

Another mare who has just produced a Visionaire foal is a grandaughter of Golden Apple, the dam of July-winning sire Pomodoro.

Schalkie said, “So he’s getting good mares and he looks well, he is 18 years old but he does not look old, he looks like a young horse, so let’s hope his fertility lasts. Last year his fertility was good.”

A couple of seasons ago he had a problem with an abscess on his neck and got very few mares. He generally wasn’t supported by Cape Breeders anyway, despite having moved down from KZN to Lammerskraal Stud after good early success.

However, he arrived at Gelykfontein from Lammerskraal in good health and is enjoying himself in the Karoo.

He covered about 40 mares last year and Schalkie expects him to get about 50 this year.

Gelykfontein is not far from Gary Player’s old stud farm.

Gelykfontein have been going for close to 90 years, having been established in 1934.

Their first yearlings were sold in 1937 in Johannesburg and below is the cover of that catalogue.

Schalkie has kept every single catalogue the farm has been represented in.

He also has other artefacts including the below horse mouth opener (to allow veterinarians to inspect a horse’s mouth), which he believes must be about 200 years old and he thinks it belonged to his great grandfather.

Gelykfontyein have produced fine horses over the years but none as good as the legendary 1961-born filly Renounce (Arctic Flower), who was the only female to ever beat the immortal Sea Cottage. She also beat another legendary horse in William Penn when winning the Cape Guineas against the boys. Renounce also won the Met as well as two Paddock Stakes (by five lengths and eight lengths) and the Garden Province Stakes (by seven lengths) among her total of ten wins and many big race places.

Schalkie has been taking horses himself to the Jo’Burg Sales for 58 years and he took over the running of the farm when his father passed away way back in 1977.

Visionaire’s biggest win was in the Gr 1 King’s Bishop Stakes over 1400m.

He only had one lot at the last BSA National Yearling Sale, because that was the year where he did not produce many foals due to the neck abscess. However, the full sister to Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic winner Takingthepeace went for R475,000.

Schalkie said, “Visionaire is definitely a commercial stallion, they go for good prices.”

Visionaire has produced ten stakes winners of 24 races, including two Gr 1 winners (Takingthepeace and Good Traveller).

Will Sovereign State make it three?

A picture of devastation at Hassen Adams’ Nadeson Park Stud farm (Sporting Post picture).

Rains Cause Devastation To Hemel ‘N Aarde Valley Breeding Farms

The Nadeson Park stud farm of Hassen Adams was all but swept away by raging torrents caused by the relentless downpours in the Western Cape on Monday coupled with the cumulative effects of record rains over the winter. Thankfully all of the staff and horses withdrew to safety without incident.

David Hepburn-Brown’s Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud farm also reportedly suffered damage, although apparently not as bad as Nadeson Park.

Thankfully Barbara Sanne’s Oldlands Stud, also in the Hemel ‘N Aarde Valley, emerged unscathed despite being close to Nadeson Park.

Kommetdieding winning the 2022 Met (Picture: Chase Liebenberg).

Kommetdieding Firing On All Cylinders

John Freeman has reported Klawervlei Stud-based July and Met-winning hero Kommetdieding to be showing all the signs of excellent fertility.

“Kommetdieding is firing on all cylinders and apart from missing his very first mare (she didn’t ovulate so not his fault) he has had all of his next four mares tested in foal with many more to test.

He is very fertile and doing the job.

John Koster says he is a true professional in the breeding shed.

Very good at the job and efficient in covering.”

Freeman reminded shareholders that there are few at stud with Kommet’s racing prowess.

He won his only start at two years over 1200m and then rocketed himself to stardom, winning the Durban July as a three-year-old and he then reaffirmed his supremacy as a four-year-old, beating Jet Dark and Linebacker in the Cape Met.

Senso Unico (scarlet, gold crossed sashes) fending off the challenge of Triple Time (Picture: Wayne Marks).

Senso Unico Comes Of Age

The big Vaughan Marshall-trained Twice Over gelding Senso Unico was always going to be a horse who needed time and he finally earned bold black type at the age five on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.

The big galloper with the big stride is at his best on the back of a good pace over a testing distance and he finally got a good pace in the Listed Hollywoodbets Settlers Trophy over 2000m on Saturday.

He sat one wide one in midfield in the nine horse field after being rousted from a wide draw by Luyolo Mxothwa.

The Futurist set good fractions that neabled Senso Unico to use his big stride without being cramped for galloping room.

In the straight his resolute finish soon saw him take command as others began gasping for air.

However, he had to withstand a late surge by the favourite Triple Time and only just held on (by a head).

The latter was a touch unlucky as he had to switch all the way from the inside rail to the ouside of runners to get a clear run.

Senso Unico is owned by AN Foster and the Honorary Mrs GR Foster and was bred by AN Foster.

His connections will be hoping for more fast-paced races to bring out the best in the big gelding.

Rule Book brought home today (Tuesday) by Philasande Mxoli (JC Photos).

Rule Book Could Be A Stayer To Follow

The Alec Laird-trained Global View gelding Rule Book had the field stretched out like the washing when winning the last race over 2600m at Turffontein Inside today (Tuesday).

It was his fourth career win for owner Grant Cornwall.

He turned for home in midfield and ran on resolutely before fending off the challenge of the big stayer, Breeze Over, who started favourite at 2/1, to win by 1,75 lengths.

The third finisher American Grayson was beaten a further three lengths and the fourth and fifth placed horses, Over Two You and Flying First Class, were beaten eight and eleven lengths respectively.

Rule Book was actually beaten 3,50 lengths by Breeze Over last time out over the same course and distance and was today facing him on 1,5kg better terms.

However, Alec Laird said before the race, “Rule Book is terribly lazy at home, he gives nothing away, but he should be close to his peak now.”

This was his fourth run after a layoff of close to seven months.

He was only merit-rated 75 in today’s Middle Stakes event but was 2,5kg under sufferance with the best-weighted Flying First Class.

Hopefully, Alec can keep him ticking along at his peak for a while, because he looks to have the potential to win more races and maybe a feature race.

His four wins have been over 2000m, 2400m and twice over 2600m, which emphasises his stamina capacity.

Global View’s two Group wins were over 1600m (Gr 3) and 1700m (Gr 2), but he is by stamina influence Galileo.

Furthermore, Rule Book, who is out of a British-bred Medicean mare, is a half-brother to Archipenko gelding Royal Honour, who won the Listed Aquanaut Handicap over 2400m as well the Gr 2 Ok Grand Challenge over 1800m at Borrowdale in Zimbabwe.

Rule Book stays all day and looks to be one to follow, as he is still quite lightly raced for a five-year-old.

He had a six month layoff between June and December last year as well as that aforementioned layoff between January and late July this year, meaning he has only had 15 career runs to date.

Today’s runner up Breeze Over, a Mike and Adam Azzie Twice Over gelding who has had eleven starts for one win and no fewer than seven seconds, gave Rule Book 2kg and also looks to be a stayer who will pay to follow.

Deserving owner Dave Shawe leads in Dyce, who returned from an eight month layoff to toy with the opposition in a Pinnacle Plate event over 1200m (JC Photos).

Lucky Never Rolls The Dyce And They Come Back Strongly

Horseman extraordinaire Lucky Houdalakis has an affinity for thoroughbreds like few others and this was highlighted yet again today at Turffontein Inside by an impressive win by the class act Dyce, who was returning from an eight month layoff.

The affable Houdalakis’ training motto is for the horses to do the talking and to tell him when they are ready.

Lucky diverted the accolades to owner Dave Shawe, whom he said never put pressure on him and allowed the horse to come back when he was ready and in the right race.

Dyce was one of the best two-year-olds of his crop, culminating in a demolition job in the Grade 2 Epol Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville turf, which he won by 4,30 lengths.

However, an injury then kept him off the racetrack for 15 months.

In his comeback he won second time out in impressive style in a Graduation Plate over 1200m and then finished a narrow second in the Grand Heritage to stablemate Duke Of Sussex, to whom he gave 3,5kg.

Lucky’s wife Natalie said at the time, “The longer you give them, the better they come back.”

There is no taking chances or cutting corners in the Houdalakis yard, so no rolling of the dice, or Dyce, so to speak.

Dyce had one more run after the Grand Heritage before the the next injury put him out for eight months.

He came back today in a strong Pinnacle Stakes event over 1200m.

Dyce is a joy to watch because of his distinctive action in which he carries his head at a high, but not an awkward, angle.

He sat last in the running from a tough draw of nine, but after they had come off the elbow he treated the opposition like unraced maidens, scything through the centre like a hot knife through butter under Kabelo Matsunyane.

He beat Captain Hindsight by 1,25 lengths without appearing to come out of third gear.

The latter was going for a fifth win in his last six starts and jockey Chase Maujean reportedly thought he was on his way to another win before Dyce passed him “as if he was looking for parking.”

Admittedly Dyce was only carrying 52kg.

He was officially merit rated 102, but that put him 1kg under sufferance with the best-weighted 120-rated MK’s Pride, who carried 60kg and was beaten 9,60 lengths.

Dyce has the potential to rise well above his 102 merit rating.

Lucky said Dyce had never been an unsound horse and his two setbacks were due to two completely different injuries.

Hopefully, he has an extended trot this time because even at the age of five this Titanium Racing-bred William Longsword entire is an exciting prospect.

Lyle Hewitson celebrates a double as Francis Lui is full of smiles after a treble. (HKJC)

Hewitson Double, Disappointing Support For De Melo

Lyle Hewitson rode a double at Sha Tin on Sunday to join compatriot Luke Ferraris on three wins for the season.

Meanwhile, Keagan de Melo’s fine riding in his first few mounts on the island has not apparently culminated in icreased support and it provides a stark example of just why it is such a tough jurisdiction to succeed in. It is still early days through and hopefully he can not only continue to catch the eye of punters and fans but also of owners and trainers.

A report on Sunday’s meeting can be read below:

Alexis Badel delivers front-running masterclass on Healthy Happy

By Leo Schlink (HKJC)

24/09/2023 18:59

Healthy Happy claimed Hong Kong’s first black type victory of the 2023/24 season with success in the G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (24 September) when a belated reunion with Alexis Badel delivered drought-breaking triumph.

Badel has been aboard in three of Healthy Happy’s five Hong Kong wins – the 2021 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), the 2022 G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) and today’s HK$4.2 million feature – but the Frenchman has not always been available to partner the seven-year-old.

“Someone asked me ‘Why did you only this time ask Alexis to ride the horse?’ and I told them ‘I always ask him, but he’s busy’,” trainer Frankie Lor joked after Badel’s flawless pace-setting display allowed Healthy Happy to lead from start to finish, clocking 1m 21.93s, to defeat Circuit Stellar and The Golden Scenery.

“He (Badel) controlled the pace very good. I’m very happy because this horse has gone a long time without winning. First-up is always best for him. Last season, he was beaten by a good horse, California Spangle, in this race first-up. This season, also first-up, he won.

“There are not many 1400m races for horses with high ratings (107), so maybe I’m looking at 1600m races. The Sha Tin Trophy on 15 October may be too close for him. The Jockey Club Mile on 19 November may be his next start. That would give him more time to rest and return to the races fresher.”

Winless in 15 starts since his 2022 Chinese Club Challenge Cup victory, Healthy Happy was able to saunter through first 600m today in a pedestrian 37.08s before Badel gradually upped the tempo.

“It was a lovely run, he’s a lovely horse. He likes to go forward and take the pace. He flew from the machines, so I was left alone very easily and I then increased a little bit the pace and the horse is very good early season using these tactics,” Badel said.

“He gave me a nice kick entering the home straight and he showed good stamina to resist. He’s been a lovely horse to me. I won a (Hong Kong) Classic Cup on him, so it’s one of my greatest memories in Hong Kong – it’s always difficult to win races, big races are even harder (to win). He just keeps trying very hard. He’s an honest horse and he’s been great to me.”

Lor and Badel crowned a productive afternoon when Happy Together snared the Class 3 HKU Faculties Of Arts And Education Handicap (1600m).

In the throes of an excellent start to the season, Francis Lui moved to the top of the Hong Kong trainers’ championship with eight wins to lead Caspar Fownes (five) and Danny Shum (five) after registering a treble with Always Fluke, Yellowfin and Packing Treadmill.

“I’m not surprised but it’s still satisfying because they’re the favourites and they all did well in the morning trackwork,” Lui said. “It’s still too early to say (about possible championship success), but if I can, I like to try.”

Still regaining full fitness following an off-season race fall, Vincent Ho slotted a double with wins aboard Super Legends for Shum and Always Fluke for Lui. Lui teamed with Lyle Hewitson and Yellowfin to snare in the Class 3 Hong Kong University Alumni Association Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) before the pair struck with Packing Treadmill in the Class 2 HKU Foundation Handicap (1200m).

Antoine Hamelin savoured his first win of the season when Sparkling Knight posted his fifth win over Sha Tin’s 1000m course to land the Class 3 HKU Business School And Faculty Of Engineering Handicap (1000m) for Dennis Yip.

“I’m very happy. Like everyone, it’s a little bit tough this season – more than we’re used to – because there are less horses, more jockeys but we keep going on and we keep doing the best and when you have this horse and the support, it’s fine,” the Frenchman said.

Zac Purton combined with Ricky Yiu and talented Green N White after Michael Chang celebrated his first victory of the season when Bear Slam charged home under Andrea Atzeni to post his fourth career – and the veteran’s first since February, 2021.

Earlier, Pierre Ng-trained M M Nebula survived a desperate challenge under Matthew Chadwick from Zac Purton on Son Of Makfi.

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (27 September).

The big lightly-raced Brett Crawford-trained four-year-old Querari gelding I Am Giant made it three wins from just six starts at Turffontein Inside today and gave Kabelo Matsunyane the first leg of a quick double (JC Photos).

Mxoli, Matsunyane Doubles

Philasande Mxoli and Kabelo Matsunyane both rode doubles at Tuesday’s Turffontein Inside track meeting.

Mxoli goes to 18 wins for the season and has achieved it at a strike rate of 18.37%.

Matsunyane is on 13 wins at 10.16%.

Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly Fields, Wednesday

Picture: The horse in question is pictured above (Kenneth Chan)

Today’s Question

Who is the highest earning horse in world history?

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION

Golden Sixty became the highest-earning racehorse in history at Sha Tin earlier this year when taking out the Group One FWD Champions Mile for a record third straight time.

By pocketing the HK$11.4 million Champions Mile first prize, Golden Sixty took his earnings to almost HK$148 million and sailed past the A$26.45 million [HK$137 million] wonder mare Winx banked during her incredible career.

Golden Sixty (wikipedia)

Golden Sixty

Sire Medaglia d’Oro

Grandsire El Prado

Dam Gaudeamus

Damsire Distorted Humor

Sex Gelding

Foaled 14 October 2015

Country Australia

Colour Brown

Breeder Asco International

Owner Stanley Chan Ka Leung

Trainer Francis Lui Kin Wai

Jockey Vincent C Y Ho

Record 29: 25-2-1

Earnings HK$147,930,600

Major wins

Chinese Club Challenge Cup (2020)

Hong Kong Classic Mile (2020)

Hong Kong Classic Cup (2020)

Hong Kong Derby (2020)

Celebration Cup (2020)

Sha Tin Trophy (2020)

Jockey Club Mile (2020, 2021, 2022)

Hong Kong Mile (2020, 2021)

Stewards’ Cup (2021, 2023)

Hong Kong Gold Cup (2021, 2023)

Champions Mile (2021, 2022, 2023)

Chairman’s Trophy (2022)

Awards

Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2021, 2022, 2023)

Hong Kong Most Popular Horse of the Year (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)

Hong Kong Champion Four-Year-Old (2020)

Hong Kong Champion Miler (2021, 2022, 2023)

Hong Kong Champion Middle-Distance Horse (2021)

Last updated on 16 July 2023

Golden Sixty (Chinese: 金鎗六十, foaled 14 October 2015) is a champion Australian-bred Hong Kong-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Four-Year-Old Classic Series in year 2020 and was named the 2020/2021, 2021/2022, and 2022/2023 Hong Kong Horse of the Year.

After being sold to New Zealand-based interests as a yearling he was exported to Hong Kong as a two-year-old. In his first season the gelding won his first three races but ran unplaced in his final start. In the 2019/2020 season he emerged as one of the best horses in Hong Kong as he was undefeated in seven starts including the Chinese Club Challenge Cup, Hong Kong Classic Mile, Hong Kong Classic Cup, and Hong Kong Derby. In the 2020/2021 season he won another seven consecutive races: the Celebration Cup, Sha Tin Trophy, Jockey Club Mile, Hong Kong Mile, Stewards’ Cup, Hong Kong Gold Cup and Champions Mile to take his unbeaten run to fourteen. In the 2021/2022 season he increased the unbeaten run to 16 with wins in the Jockey Club Mile and Hong Kong Mile for the second consecutive year.

On 26 February 2023, Golden Sixty raced in the Hong Kong Gold Cup for the third time and claimed his 24th win, which surpasses the 85-year record of 23 wins in Hong Kong maintained by the 1930s racehorse Liberty Bay, making Golden Sixty the racehorse with the most wins in Hong Kong horse racing history.

On 9 March 2023, Golden Sixty ranked first with a score of 125 in the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.

On 30 April 2023, Golden Sixty claimed his third consecutive win in the Champions Mile, marking not only his 25th win but also his 9th international Group One win, which surpasses Beauty Generation’s record of 8 international Group One wins. Golden Sixty also becomes the racehorse with the most prize money earnings in the world, breaking the record made by Winx.

On 14 July 2023, Golden Sixty claimed his third consecutive title as the Hong Kong Horse of the Year, becoming the first racehorse to achieve this record in Hong Kong racing history.

Background

Golden Sixty is a brown horse with a white star and snip and white socks on his hind legs bred in Australia by Asco International Pty Ltd. In January 2017 the yearling was consigned to the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale and was bought for A$120,000 by the New Zealand bloodstock company Riversley Park. In November 2017 at Karaka, the colt was put up for auction in the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale and was sold to the Hong Kong-based trainer Francis Lui Kin Wai for NZ$300,000. The colt was gelded and sent to Hong Kong where he was taken into training by Lui and entered the ownership of Stanley Chan Ka Leung. As of April 2021, he has been ridden in all of his starts by Vincent Ho Chak-Yiu and raced exclusively at Sha Tin Racecourse.

He was from the tenth crop of foals sired by the American stallion Medaglia d’Oro, whose wins included the Travers Stakes, Whitney Handicap, and Donn Handicap. Medaglia d’Oro became a very successful breeding stallion whose other foals have included Rachel Alexandra, Songbird and Talismanic. Golden Sixty’s dam Gaudeamus was a Kentucky-bred mare who showed high-class form in Ireland, winning three races including the Debutante Stakes. She was a granddaughter of the 1000 Guineas runner-up Konafa, whose other descendants have included Hector Protector and Bosra Sham.

Racing career

2018-2019: Three-year-old season

Golden Sixty made his debut in the Castle Bay Peak Handicap over 1200 metres on 31 March 2019 for which he was assigned a weight of 123 pounds based on his track work. Going off the 1.7/1 favourite he recovered from a poor start to take the lead in the closing stages and won by one and a half lengths from Shining Ace. On 28 April he started favourite for a more valuable handicap over the same distance and won by a neck from Lockheed after coming from sixth place on the final turn. In a similar event on 8 June he won again, taking the lead in the closing stages and beating Mr Croissant by half a length. On his final run of the season the gelding was stepped up to 1400 metres and started favourite for a handicap race on 7 July but came home tenth behind Star Performance after being hampered in the closing stages. Francis Lui explained that Golden Sixty had raced too freely in the early stages and was already beaten when the interference occurred.

2019-2020: Four-year-old season

On his first appearance of the new season Golden Sixty was assigned 130 pounds for the 1200 metre Sunset Peak Handicap on 1 September and produced a strong late run to beat Mr Croissant by one and a quarter lengths. In a 1400-metre handicap on 20 October the gelding won again, coming from well off the pace to take the lead in the closing stages and prevail by one and a quarter lengths from Encouraging with The Hulk three and a half lengths back in third place. On 23 November, in a similar event over the same distance, Golden Sixty won by one and a quarter lengths from Lucky Hero under top weight of 133 pounds. On 1 January 2020 Golden Sixty was stepped up to Group 3 class for the Chinese Club Challenge Cup over 1400 metres in an eight-runner field. Starting the odds-on favourite he won by two lengths from Fat Turtle after producing a strong late run from the rear of the field. After the race Francis Lui said, “I am happy to see him run like that… he has a very big fighting heart, you can see every race he tries his best.”

Golden Sixty was then aimed at the Hong Kong Four-Year-Old Classic Series, a trio of contests for four-year-olds trained in Hong Kong. On 27 January he started favourite for the Hong Kong Classic Mile with the best fancied of his eight opponents being his stablemate More Than This and Beauty Legacy (winner of the Autumn Stakes). After settling behind the leaders on the inside he switched to the outside 400 metres from the finish, took the lead in the closing stages and won “readily” by one and a quarter lengths from More Than This. Twenty-eight days after his win in the Classic Mile, the gelding was stepped up in distance for the Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800 metres and, despite contacting a fever two weeks before the race, started favourite ahead of More Than This and Beauty Legacy, with the best of the other seven runners appearing to be the Lion Rock Trophy winner Champion’s Way. Golden Sixty raced towards the rear before making a forward move 400 metres out, and after briefly struggling to obtain a clear passage, he ran down the leaders, caught Champion’s Way in the last 50 metres and won by half a length. Lui commented “He is a tough horse, everybody knows he got a temperature two weeks ago, but he still performed today. I was very worried. I tried everything [to get him here], finally we made it here. He jumped and he followed the other horses, he relaxed well like last time. I am happy with that because before the race I worried that there was no pace in it.”

On 22 March Golden Sixty was moved up in trip for the 2000 metre Hong Kong Derby, when he attempted to become the second horse, after Rapper Dragon, to win all three legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series. He went off the odds-on favourite ahead of More Than This and Champion’s Way with only one of the other eleven runners starting at less than 24/1. He raced towards the rear before moving up on the wide outside entering the straight by which time the 290/1 outsider Playa Del Puente had rushed several lengths clear of the field. Golden Sixty produced a sustained late run, caught Playa Del Puente in the final strides and won by a neck. After the race Lui said “I’m very happy, I have to say thank you to my stable team and everybody who has supported me. It’s not easy when you have this kind of good horse… I could see round the bend they slowed down the pace, that’s why the other horse went to the front.”

At the Hong Kong’s Champion Awards ceremony in July 2020, Golden Sixty was named Champion Four-Year-Old and Most Popular Horse of the Year.

2020-2021: Five-year-old season

Golden Sixty began his third campaign in the Group 3 Celebration Cup over 1400 metres on 27 September when he was matched against the two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Beauty Generation, from whom he received seventeen pounds in weight. Starting the 4/5 favourite he came from the rear of the field to take the lead approaching the last 100 metres and won by one and a quarter lengths from Beauty Generation and Champion’s Way who dead-heated for second place. Vincent Ho commented “It’s very exciting to be back on him. He felt great and fresh today. Once I got a clear run, I knew he’d run them down… I think he was around 70 to 75% fit before this run and after this he should go up even more”. Three weeks later the gelding started odds-on favourite for the Group 2 Sha Tin Trophy over 1600 metres and won again as he ran down the front-running outsider in the final strides to win by half a length. The Champions Mile winner Southern Legend came home third ahead of Champion’s Way with Beauty Generation finishing sixth. After riding the horse to his ninth consecutive win Ho said “He’s come on really well and today he settled a lot more, really well behind the gate and inside the gate, he was so relaxed and with each run his fitness is coming on. He does switch off. Two, maybe three strides after he hits the front, he always does. That’s why he never wins by huge margins.” In the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile on 22 November Golden Sixty started odds-on favourite and took his winning streak to ten as he produced a strong run on the outside to take the lead 200 meters from the finish and won by one and a half lengths and a neck from Ka Ying Star and Southern Legend. Ho commented “I’ve never been in a Formula 1 car but I feel like riding him it’s probably similar. He’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse for me.”

On 13 December Golden Sixty was matched against international competition in the Hong Kong Mile and started the odds-on favourite in a ten-runner field. The overseas contingent comprised Admire Mars from Japan and the Irish runners Order of Australia and Romanised while the locally trained contenders included Beauty Generation, Ka Ying Star, Southern Legend and Waikuku (Stewards’ Cup). After being restrained towards the year, Golden Sixty made “smooth progress” on the outside, overtook Admire Mars approaching the last 200 metres and won “readily” by two lengths from Southern Legend. Vincent Ho said “At the top of the straight I knew [I was going to win] because I was just cruising and I didn’t think anyone could beat him. I really don’t know what to say, it couldn’t be better. I’m grateful to give some positive energy to Hong Kong and the whole world in racing.”

In the 2020 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, Golden Sixty was rated the equal tenth best racehorse in the world, six pounds behind the top-rated Ghaiyyath.

Golden Sixty began 2021 by starting 1/5 favourite for the Group 1 Stewards’ Cup over 1600 metres on 24 January, when his rivals included Waikuku, Southern Legend, Ka Ying Star, Rise High (2019 Sha Tin Trophy), More Than This and Champion’s Way. He produced his customary strong late run but after his saddle slipped in the straight he had to be “driven out” by Ho to win by a head from Southern Legend. After the race Ho said “the saddle slipped back a little bit at the 300 meters. It was still OK but it was not as comfortable for me and Golden Sixty, of course, but top athletes, top horses need to overcome all kind of different circumstances—something you can’t predict but you have to ready for that.” Four weeks later the gelding was stepped up in distance for the 2000 metre Hong Kong Gold Cup and went off the odds-on favourite in a seven-runner field. His opponents on this occasion included the 2020 Hong Kong Horse of the Year Exultant, Furore (2019 Hong Kong Derby) and Time Warp (2017 Hong Kong Cup). After settling towards the rear behind the front-running Time Warp, Golden Sixty moved up on the outside to take the lead 200 metres from the finish but was “hard pressed” by Furore in the closing stages before prevailing by a short head. Lui commented “My heart is pumping. When he first came into the straight I thought he would win easily. But when he got into a competition with the other horses, especially [Furore], it was tough,” while Ho said “I was quite confident that I would stay ahead of them but we fought hard – it wasn’t easy it was a bit unexpected to be that close… he wanted to lay in so it was difficult for me.”

On 25 April Golden Sixty attempted to take his winning run to fourteen in the Champions Mile and started the 1/5 favourite against five opponents, namely Southern Legend, More Than This, Ka Ying Star, Healthy Happy (Hong Kong Classic Cup) and Mighty Giant (Chairman’s Trophy). He settled towards the rear before moving up on the outside to take the lead 400 metres from the finish but after opening up a clear lead he was strongly challenged by the fast-finishing More Than This in the closing stages and “just held on” to win by a head. Vincent Ho explained “Usually, it takes a while for him to pick up but today they went dead slow. When I pulled out at the 600m, we were almost alongside them when I hit the straight. We learned that he can fight when something is chasing him, not just when he is doing the chasing, which is good… hopefully he can have a break now until next season. He’s had a couple of tough runs.”

2021-2022: Six-year-old season

Golden Sixty won the Jockey Club Mile and Hong Kong Mile for the second year in a row and increased his unbeaten run to 16. And he claimed 19 wins which broke the 18 wins record made by Silent Witness and kept by Beauty Generation. Golden Sixty had become the racing horse with the most victories since the professionalization of Hong Kong horseracing in 1971.

Golden Sixty was defeated in Steward’s Cup 2022 by Waikuku, failed to catch up the 17 consecutive victory record made by Silent Witness, as well as the 23 consecutive victory record made by the 1930s racehorse Liberty Bay. And then he got beaten again in Hong Kong Gold Cup 2022 by Russian Emperor and Savvy Nine. Golden Sixty won again in Chairman’s Trophy and Champions Mile 2022. He broke the highest prize money earnings record made by Beauty Generation.

After the victory in Champions Mile 2022, Golden Sixty received the invitation from JRA to race in Yasuda Kinen 2022 and his owner Stanley Chan Ka Leung and trainer Francis Lui accepted the offer. However, Chan and Lui eventually decided that Golden Sixty would not race in Yasuda Kinen 2022 after discussion, and Golden Sixty’s regular jockey Vincent C Y Ho expressed disappointment for this decision and believed that Golden Sixty deserves a lot more than this.

2022-2023: Seven-year-old season

Golden Sixty defeated California Spangle and won the Jockey Club Mile for the third year in a row, claiming his 22nd win. But he was then defeated by California Spangle in the Hong Kong Mile.

Golden Sixty raced in the Hong Kong Stewards’ Cup for the third time and defeated Romantic Warrior to claim his 23rd win, which equals the record of 23 wins in Hong Kong held by the 1930s racehorse Liberty Bay.

Golden Sixty raced in the Hong Kong Gold Cup for the third time and defeated Romantic Warrior again to claim his 24th win, which surpasses Liberty Bay’s 85-year record of 23 Hong Kong wins, making Golden Sixty the racehorse with the most wins in Hong Kong horse racing history.