Golden Sixty has become the second horse ever to complete Hong Kong’s four-year-old triple crown, nabbing Playa Del Puente on the line in the Derby.
While the outbreak of the Coronavirus has shut down racing throughout the UK and Europe, racing has continued without a hitch in Hong Kong without spectators.
The Derby remains one of the most prestigious in Hong Kong and it was fitting that local jockey Vincent Ho piloted Golden Sixty to the memorable victory.
Perhaps even more remarkable is that Golden Sixty’s Triple Crown win made it the first native Hong Kong success in the professional era since it began in 1971.
Trained by Francis Lui and owned by Stanely Chan, the hometown heroes were celebrated at the Hong Kong Jockey club and by the nation watching via broadcast.
“I think I can sleep well tonight. All the pressure on my shoulders has just gone,” Ho told the HK Jockey Club.
Ho had given up six lengths to outside Playa Del Puente after Australian hoop Blake Shinn almost snatched the unlikely victory on the 289/1 shot.
Ho faith in Golden Sixty’s turn of foot made for light work in the end, taking only 21.83 seconds to cover the final 400m and catch Playa Del Puente on the line.
Lui admitted to being “excited and panicked” when Ho angled Golden Sixty out in the straight.
“Round the bend, they slowed down the pace and that’s why the other horse was able to run away but Golden Sixty showed excellent acceleration. I was worried but I could see Golden Sixty was trying very hard,” Lui said.
Rapper Dragon in 2017 is the only other horse to win all three legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series which also comprises the Hong Kong Classic Mile and Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m).
“It’s an amazing feeling to win all the four-year-old classics and he’s a superstar for sure,” Ho said.
The win also makes Ho one of only four Hong Kong-born jockeys to win the Derby in the past 50 years, and the first since Tony Cruz scored on Makarpura Star in 1995.
Jockey Zac Putron takes lead in the Hong Kong premiership stakes
Beauty Generation becomes horse of a generation in Hong Kong
