New Zealand-sourced gelding Golden Sixty will be vying for a Gr.1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) hat-trick when he heads to Sha Tin on Sunday.

The Hong Kong Champion could join Good Ba Ba as the only horse to win three successive editions of the race,

The New Zealand Bloodstock graduate pleased with his final hit-out at Sha Tin on Tuesday under jockey Vincent Ho, who is looking forward to riding the son of Medaglia d’Oro this weekend.

“He felt good, it was a nice gallop. I think he’s better than last time, I walked him around after and we’ve done enough. I can’t wait for Sunday,” Ho said. 

Golden Sixty defied a resolute California Spangle in last month’s Gr.2 Jockey Club Mile (1600m), edging past his younger adversary, who set a crawling tempo throughout the race, to score by a neck.

Trainer Francis Lui is equally looking forward to Sunday after his work on Tuesday.

“He’s good, for him it’s just an easy gallop. Everything is well, happy and healthy,” Lui said. “In his races he seems to still have his fighting heart – that’s the main point.”

Hong Kong’s two-time Horse of the Year (2020/21 & 2021/22) has won his last three starts, including two runs back when he nailed successive Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) titles. 

Golden Sixty boasts six Group Ones across his career and in 2020 he became only the second horse in Hong Kong racing history to sweep the Four-Year-Old Classic Series. 

“We just do the same with him, outside he’s ok but don’t go inside his box – he’ll bite, kick or show any action towards you,” Lui said.

“If Vincent (Ho) has time he always goes to the stables with Golden Sixty and sometimes afterwards he will lead the horse for walks. They have a very good friendship, I think the horse knows, of course, he isn't a human but he knows.”

Golden Sixty’s 22 Hong Kong wins are a record in the city (since the professional era commenced in the 1971/72 racing season), putting the champion at the top of an illustrious list with Beauty Generation, Silent Witness and Super Win all sharing second spot with 18 wins apiece. 

Golden Sixty was purchased by his trainer out of Riversley Park’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft for $300,000.