The big guns appeared at Sha Tin’s barrier trial session on Tuesday morning with Golden Sixty (Medgalia d’Oro) dazzling in an opening heat for Vincent Ho and Francis Lui as preparations launched for next month’s FWD Champions Day.
Looking to banish memories of consecutive defeats and recapture his winning thread, Golden Sixty clocked 59.20s (14.5, 22.6, 22.1) on a still morning under floodlights at Sha Tin.
Urged along by Ho, Golden Sixty – with his familiar blue foreleg wraps tightly fastened – stretched out swiftly over 1000m on the grass, much to the pleasure of trainer Francis Lui who, maintained a careful eye over the HK$99.29 million earner.
“He seems ok – he had a bit of a blow this morning after the trial, the plan was to push him because he has only had four runs this season – he hasn’t had too many races, so he needs the trials,” Lui said of his 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run purchase.
Entered for the HK$4.75 million Gr.2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) on Sunday, 3 April at Sha Tin, Golden Sixty could face up to 13 others that day currently entered for the race, including Russian Emperor, Waikuku, More Than This and Cheerful Days.
The winner of 16 consecutive races, Golden Sixty had his streak halted in January’s Gr.1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) by Waikuku, before again going under in last month’s Gr.1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) to Russian Emperor.
The Medaglia d’Oro six-year-old will chase consecutive Gr.1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) wins at next month’s HK$65 million showcase.
Golden Sixty was secured by Lui for $300,000 when purchased out of Riversley Park’s 2017 Ready To Run Draft.
