Golden Sixty, the reigning BMW Hong Kong Derby champ, moved smoothly into the top ranks of local runners at Sha Tin Racecourse Sept. 27, rallying to a convincing victory in the Celebration Cup (G3).
While the win announced Golden Sixty's arrival among Hong Kong's older elite, two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Beauty Generation demonstrated he's far from finished at age 8, overcoming some traffic problems to finish in a dead heat for second with Champions Way.
The race had been awaited eagerly by the local punters. Golden Sixty, a Medaglia d'Oro gelding out of the Distorted Humor mare Gaudeamus, swept last season's 4-year-old Classic Series, culminating in the Derby win, but then rested on his laurels. Beauty Generation, meanwhile, struggled early in the season, then finished strongly with a pair of wins and a just-missed second in the FWD Champions Mile (G1).
Game on for the 2020-21 campaign.
Golden Sixty, in receipt of 17 pounds from Beauty Generation, traveled smoothly in midpack down the Sha Tin backstretch in the Celebration Cup, moved out for room under jockey Vincent Ho, and was in command for the final 100 meters of the 1,400-meter (about seven-furlong) race. He won by 1 3/4 lengths.
Beauty Generation, with familiar rider Zac Purton aboard, raced closer to the pace, found himself in a bit of a box at the top of the lane, and then wasn't able to make up the difference despite responding well.
The race was the first of the season for both Beauty Generation and Golden Sixty, short of their best distance and acknowledged by all to be a steppingstone to the group 1 Longines Hong Kong International Races in December. Still, it was important that Golden Sixty show he could hold his own against elders and vital that Beauty Generation demonstrate he is not over the hill.
Both achieved their goals.
"It's very exciting to be back on him," Ho said of Golden Sixty. "He felt great and fresh today. Once I got a clear run, I knew he'd run them down. I think he is one of the best horses in Hong Kong at the moment."
"I think he was around 70 to 75% fit before this run and after this he should go up even more, of course with the aim of December," Ho added.
Beauty Generation's trainer, David Hayes, had a similar assessment of his charge's performance.
"We knew it was always going to be a big ask to give a young champion like Golden Sixty so much weight," Hayes said. "But I think Beauty Generation would have finished a clear second with a better run, and I'm very happy with the way he went."
Beauty Generation and Golden Sixty could meet again in the Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy Handicap at one mile Oct. 18.
"The big handicap at a mile is obviously an option," Hayes said. "But, as I said before the race today, he's going to be at his very best when the big set-weights races come around in November and December."
All being well, Beauty Generation is a lock to seek a third win in the Longines Hong Kong Mile on the big day, Dec. 13. Golden Sixty's trainer, Francis Lui, hasn't indicated whether Golden Sixty will stick to that distance or stretch out to the 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) of the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1).
