Golden Sixty secured a fourth straight Champion Miler title with his winning performance in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile last December. The Francis Lui-trained three-time Horse of the Year returned first-up after a 224-day break between runs, and also overcame the widest of 14 barriers to win his third LONGINES Hong Kong Mile in one minute 34.10 seconds.
The victory was the Medaglia d’Oro gelding’s 26th in 30 starts, boosting his Group 1 tally to 10 – a Hong Kong record. Golden Sixty extended his world-record earnings to HK$167,170,600 after finishing a creditable fourth in the G1 FWD Champions Mile on yielding ground.
Tony Cruz-trained California Spangle was named Champion Sprinter. Once regarded as one of the elite milers in town after winning the 2022 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, the Starspangledbanner gelding made a giant step forward when reverting to sprints. He won the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) before winning Dubai’s G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) against a quality field at Meydan in track record time of one minute 07.50 seconds.
Also trained by Cruz, Five G Patch was crowned Champion Stayer. He finished in the money in all three major 2400m events here: sixth in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase, second in the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap and second behind Rebel’s Romance in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup.
Pierre Ng-trained Galaxy Patch was named Champion Four-Year-Old. The emerging youngster is incredibly consistent, finishing in the money in all 12 starts this season with six wins, three seconds and three fifths. He won the G3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap (1600m) and G3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m), and finished second in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m). At 119 locally, Galaxy Patch is the highest-rated four-year-old in Hong Kong.
David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising finished his rookie season with five wins and two seconds from just seven starts to be acclaimed Champion Griffin. The three-year-old soared 59 points to 111 after starting the campaign rated 52. He is also this term’s Most Improved Horse. The gelding capped his campaign with victory in the G3 Sha Tin Vase handicap (1200m), getting the better of a group of older rivals including Flying Ace.
