Golden Sixty Named Hong Kong Horse of the Year

Golden Sixty's outstanding exploits during the 2020-21 season earned the multiple group 1 victor the Hong Kong Horse of the Year award at a special presentation function held at Happy Valley Clubhouse July 13.

The Francis Lui-trained 5-year-old was also named champion miler and champion middle-distance horse. In addition, the son of Medaglia d'Oro   also secured the bulk of the public vote to claim the Most Popular Horse title for the second consecutive year.

The 2019-20 season's champion 4-year-old showed further improvement late last year and into 2021, with his last four wins all at group 1 level. Since September 2019, he has maintained an unbeaten run of 14 and he is the first horse to capture the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1), Stewards' Cup (G1), Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1), and FWD Champions Mile (G1) in the same season, highlighting his versatility and brilliance.  

Golden Sixty is the fourth horse in Hong Kong racing history after Good Ba Ba, Able Friend, and Beauty Generation to win the Horse of the Year title in the same season as winning both the Hong Kong Mile and Champions Mile. In addition to his four group 1 wins, Golden Sixty also took the Jockey Club Mile (G2), Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy (G2), and Celebration Cup (G3). 

Hot King Prawn was named the season's champion sprinter. The John Size-trained 6-year-old opened his group 1-winning account in the Centenary Sprint Cup (G1) in January this year. The Denman  gelding was a steady performer throughout the season, finishing out of the money only once in his five starts since last October. He also won the Jockey Club Sprint (G2) last November.

Panfield was crowned champion stayer. The Tony Millard-trained Chilean import was already a group 1 victor prior to his arrival in Hong Kong. After opening his Hong Kong winning account in a class 2 event over 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles), the Lookin At Lucky   colt ran a gallant third behind Sky Darci in the BMW Hong Kong Derby. He then achieved a career peak when defeating older rivals, including Exultant, in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (G1) in May.   

Sky Darci was the winner of the 4-year-old champion award. The Caspar Fownes-trained galloper won five races this season, including the Hong Kong Derby, the final leg of the 4-Year-Old Classic Series, and the Lion Rock Trophy (G3). In his final start of the season, he also finished a creditable second behind stablemate Sky Field in the Premier Cup (G3).

Fantastic Treasure was named the season's champion griffin after remaining unbeaten with five wins from five starts in his rookie season in Hong Kong. The David Hayes-trained 3-year-old achieved his career highlight to date in a class 2, 1,400-meter (about seven-furlong) contest at Sha Tin, defeating seasoned gallopers to achieve a rating of 94.

The John Size-trained Courier Wonder was named the season's Most Improved Horse. After starting the campaign on a rating of 52, the Sacred Falls  gelding soared 55 points to a mark of 107 after remaining unbeaten with five wins from five starts.

Caspar Fownes was honored with the champion trainer title. The battle for the championship was settled before the season finale and Fownes was most deserving of his fourth title, having led for the majority of the season before repelling a strong charge from 11-time champion, John Size.

Joao Moreira was crowned champion jockey for the fourth time. The Brazilian rider had a fantastic season of achievements, including becoming only the third jockey in history to notch 1,000 winners in Hong Kong. He also won the public vote to earn the Most Popular Jockey of the Year accolade.

The winner of the Tony Cruz Award for the season's leading homegrown rider will be revealed and presented during racing at the July 14 season finale at Happy Valley.

Former Hong Kong champions Beauty Generation and Exultant were presented with lifetime achievement awards for their great contributions to Hong Kong racing.