Golden moment beckons

Hong Kong champion racehorse Golden Sixty could make history by winning the FWD Champions Mile for the fourth time on Sunday and may continue to gallop at local racecourses despite its advanced age.

The eight-year-old Australian-bred and Hong Kong-trained Golden Sixty won the race three years in a row from 2021 on FWD Champions Day.

This year's FWD Champions Day on Sunday - featuring three prestigious Group 1 races, the FWD QEII Cup, FWD Champions Mile and Chairman's Sprint Prize - will have a record-breaking 11 overseas horses competing at the Sha Tin Racecourse.

Trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai said Golden Sixty is in good spirits and he is confident the racehorse will win the race a fourth time with top jockey Vincent Ho Chak-yiu.

Although owner Stanley Chan Ka-leung last year said the racehorse would retire after this year's FWD Champions Mile, Lui implied it is possible for Golden Sixty to continue competing.

"We will make a decision based on its performance [on Sunday]," said the 65-year-old Lui. He added he will assess the horse's health, saying Golden Sixty remains passionate about racing.

He said the horse is well-prepared for the upcoming race. Golden Sixty suffered a left foreleg injury earlier, but it has recovered and is now in good condition, Lui said.

He said on Sunday Golden Sixty will compete with its two major local rivals - Galaxy Patch and Voyage Bubble - as well as overseas competitors.

"I don't know much about the strength of the overseas horses yet but I think they must be good to participate in this international race," he said.

Lui said Golden Sixty is the "best racehorse" he has ever trained and has brought honor to his stable. He added: "Golden Sixty has innate potential - I can't just train a regular horse into a champion racehorse. Based on my experience, it's hard to find another horse as good as Golden Sixty.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Lui said hosting international races lets the whole world know the high standard of racing in Hong Kong and helps the local industry to keep improving.

"Many overseas jockeys are famous and competitive, challenging us and helping us improve," he said.

Golden Sixty is the only Hong Kong racehorse that has won 10 Group 1 races, earning total stakes of HK$165 million - the highest in the world.

It also ranked sixth in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings last year, the highest among Hong Kong racehorses.

Golden Sixty only raced once this season, winning the Longines Hong Kong Mile in December last year.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club said 33 horses will participate in the three races on FWD Champions Day.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com