Golden Sixty, Waikuku Go Separate Ways on HK Program

With his long winning streak snapped last time out, Golden Sixty returns to action, and to his longest-ever distance, Feb. 20 in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1) at Sha Tin Racecourse. The Gold Cup, the feature attraction on a program with two group 1 events will have no fans in the stands, courtesy of the pandemic.

Golden Sixty ran out of ground in his last outing, the 1,600-meter (about one mile) Stewards' Cup (G1) on Jan. 23, failing to catch Waikuku with a late surge and ending a 16-race victory skein.

In the Gold Cup, the 7-year-old Medaglia d'Oro   gelding gets an additional 400 meters (about 1/4 mile) to play with while facing some familiar rivals he's handled in the past.

More Than This was third behind Golden Sixty in the 2020 BMW Hong Kong Derby at the same 2,000-meter distance and returns for another shot.

The first three finishers in the 2021 Derby field—Sky Darci, Russian Emperor , and Panfield—also are entered for the Gold Cup but Russian Emperor and Panfield have studiously ducked Golden Sixty previously while Sky Darci has lost to him decisively in two meetings, both at one mile.

Golden Sixty's other 2,000-meter triumph came in last year's Gold Cup in a tight finish over Furore. 

Regular rider Vincent Ho accompanied Golden Sixty on a predawn gallop over the Sha Tin Racecourse turf Feb. 15 and pronounced himself pleased.

"(Golden Sixty) felt good. He was really relaxed and he feels nice and strong," Ho said. "To ride a horse like him, I'm always happy. There are no concerns about 2,000 meters. We have done that before. He'll be fine."

Caspar Fownes trains three of the entrants for the Gold Cup, including Sky Darci. He said that one can contend as he returns to the Derby distance for the first time.

"I felt that in his first two runs this season he was very unlucky," said Fownes, whose horses have turned in some notable upsets in big Hong Kong events. "But since then his form has just been average. He's been coming out of the gates nice and slow, looking like he wants to go over further.

"So, we're giving him that chance on the weekend and let's hope it plays into our hands and that he can pick up a nice check for the owners."

One rival Golden Sixty doesn't have to worry about in the Gold Cup is his conqueror in the Stewards' Cup—Waikuku. The 7-year-old Harbour Watch  gelding wants nothing to do with 2,000 meters and is entered as a solid pick, instead, in the co-featured Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (G1) while dropping back to 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs).

Waikuku won the 2021 Silver Jubilee Cup but, like most of this field, hasn't exactly been a model of consistency. After finishing second to Golden Sixty in the BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (G2) in November, he reported seventh in the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1) a month later.

Ridden through the early part of his career by Joao Moreira, Zac Purton took over riding duties for trainer John Size this season and, but for one absence due to injury, has become an effective regular pilot. Preparing for the latest challenge, Purton lamented Waikuku's misfortune in running against a few of the best in Hong Kong history.

"He's always been right there," said the Australian who favors random American baseball team caps when not helmeted. "Unfortunately, he's run into two champions here in Hong Kong in Beauty Generation and Golden Sixty and sometimes he's had to play second fiddle. But he's also been able to topple the champs at the same time.

"So he's a quality galloper. We've seen that. And hopefully we can get another one on the board."

As Hong Kong struggles to contain a new wave of COVID-19, only essential personnel are allowed at race meetings until further notice. Even horse owners with entries are denied access, as are media. The Hong Kong Jockey Club also has closed all off-track wagering facilities temporarily and suspended its telebet operations, leaving internet wagering as the only avenue for betting.