Golden Sixty creates Hong Kong history with Group 1 Champions Mile defence

Golden Sixty became Hong Kong's highest earner in history by dominantly retaining the Group 1 FWD Champions Mile on Sunday.

California Spangle was given a soft time in front but the 2-5 favourite travelled ominously well throughout under Vincent Ho and picked off that rival easily in the straight, winning readily by two lengths.

The victory took Golden Sixty, trained by Francis Lui, to HK$113,400,600 (approx £11.26m/€13.38m) in career earnings, surpassing Beauty Generation's HK$106,233,750.

It was a 21st victory from 24 starts for the son of Medaglia D'Oro, who had suffered two of his defeats at the start of this year.

Watch Golden Sixty make Hong Kong history in the Champions Mile

There was unease in the market before the off, perhaps as a result of those recent reverses, but there was little doubt who the winner would be turning out of the bend.

Winning jockey Ho became the first rider to win three successive Champions Miles, having also won the 2020 race on Southern Legend.

Ho said: "He did well. He travelled very comfortably and when Zac [Purton, on California Spangle] steadied the pace, he started to travel a bit keen.

"I'm glad he was strong enough and brave enough to push the gap open and run them down easily; he did amazing."

Successful defence

Wellington strengthened his status as Hong Kong’s best sprinter by retaining the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize comfortably.

Trained by Richard Gibson, Wellington always travelled well under Alexis Badel and quickened impressively when asked to extend, scoring by an easy length and a quarter and pricking his ears passing the line.

Last year's second Computer Patch was first to make a move on the longshot pacesetter Kurpany, but he was unable to live with the winner's turn of foot, with Sky Field clinging on for third.

Demolition job

Romantic Warrior demolished his rivals to complete the Hong Kong Derby and Group 1 FWD QEII Cup double.

Jockey Karis Teetan never had a moment's worry on the Danny Shum-trained 4-5 favourite, cruising through the race before drawing clear of 20-1 chance Tourbillon Diamond in the final furlong.

Third was 73-1 shot Panfield, while Russian Emperor, formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien, could manage only a staying-on fifth.

Results, replays and analysis

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