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NZB graduate Golden Sixty exquisite in HK Mile; Beauty Generation retired; Te Akau in no rush for Australian Stable; 55 Second Challenge for El Roca filly
NZB graduate Golden Sixty exquisite in HK Mile
New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale graduate Golden Sixty is Hong Kong's burgeoning hometown hero after a dominant performance against his international rivals in the HK$25 million Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
"He's amazing, isn't he?" jockey Vincent Ho said, moments after the brilliant five-year-old unleashed an unanswerable burst of speed that carried him to a dazzling two-length victory.
For Ho and trainer Francis Lui, Golden Sixty's success is a first at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.
Lui was delighted and relieved to see his standout galloper seal a 14th win from 15 starts and surpass the great Beauty Generation's 10 wins in a row with his 11th-straight triumph – in Hong Kong, only the near-immortal Silent Witness has won more races on the bounce.
"I was worried about the horses from Japan and Ireland but now, after this race, he has shown me that he's a champion." Lui declared.
With speed enough to have posted nine wins at 1200m and 1400m, and the fortitude to last the local Derby's 1600m, the Medaglia d'Oro gelding seems to have it all.
"They went a little bit hard early and I was quite far back, so I just let him slide through from the 600m and it only took him a few strides to almost get to them," Ho said.
"I tried to save him until I let him down and when I asked for him, he did it really well, he gave me a really big effort."
"When I hit the top of the straight, I knew," Ho said. "I was just cruising and I didn't think anyone could beat him in that sort of sprint.
"He's a horse that really wants to compete, he's the best horse in Hong Kong at the moment. Today is all about him."
Much of the early education of the Francis Lui-trained star traces to New Zealand, with Sam Beatson of Riversley Park, in conjunction with trainer and good friend Ben Foote, preparing him for the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale.
Purchased by Lui for $300,000 at the behest of respected bloodstock agent Willie Leung, the impressive youngster was sent to Matamata trainer Graham Richardson, following a proven path to success worn by another star Hong Kong galloper, Mr Stunning.
Golden Sixty had three trials for Richardson, winning the last of them over 1030m at Te Teko in August 2018 before travelling to Hong Kong.
Richardson also trialled Mr Stunning in New Zealand after his purchase by Leung, with that galloper going on to win the Gr.1 Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m) on two occasions.
Beauty Generation retired
Eight time Group One winner Beauty Generation has been retired from racing and will live out his days at Living Legends in Victoria. Connections made the announcement following Sunday's HK$25 million Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin where the eight-year-old finished fifth to Golden Sixty.
Hong Kong's highest-rated galloper of all time – rated the equal of another great miler, Able Friend – bowed out with a Hong Kong career tally of 18 wins from 34 starts, as well as the local all-time record prize money haul of HK$106,233,750.
"I knew it may be on the table," said Zac Purton, who rode the Kwok family's champion 28 times.
"It's a bitter-sweet day. It's a sad end. He's been the best horse for me in my career. I'm certainly going to miss him. He was brave again today and wherever he may go in the world, I'm sure I'll go and visit him in his paddock one day."
At his peak, Beauty Generation was an incredible force around Sha Tin, claiming two editions of the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile among his eight Group One wins for trainer John Moore – his last three races came under the care of trainer David Hayes.
Bred by Greg Tomlinson's Nearco Stud, Beauty Generation was sold through Highden Park's 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale draft for $60,000 to Kiwi supermodel Kylie Bax under her Hermes Syndications banner.
The son of Road to Rock was initially trained in Australia by Anthony Cummings, where he raced as Montaigne, and was runner-up in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) before he was sold to Hong Kong.
Te Akau in no rush for Australian Stable
An Australian stable still remains on the radar for New Zealand juggernaut Te Akau Racing, but it is in no rush to set up roots just yet.
Te Akau Racing revealed earlier this year that it was looking to take a dozen boxes at Flemington, using the stable to launch raids across Australia.
Te Akau principal David Ellis confirmed to Racing.com that Te Akau Racing still had strong interest in having an Australian stable, but said changes to racing in his homeland would leave it in a strong position in the next few years.
"We haven't done anything about finalising anything until we can travel," Ellis said.
"We definitely want to have a base in Australia. But it's something we are going to do in our time.
"In the meantime, there has been a lot of very good things that have happened in New Zealand racing. There's now no duty on each bet and that will give the industry another NZ$12m next year.
"We've got race fields legislation that will give the industry another NZ$15-20m a year. The TAB have cut a lot of costs.
"I can see stakes going up in the next 12 to 18 months. There's a lot of good news happening in New Zealand and when you combine that with turnover at record levels each week, it is exciting."
55 Second Challenge for El Roca filly
The Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge record could be given a nudge at The Valley on Friday night by the Lloyd Kennewell-trained three-year-old filly Esta La Roca.
The daughter of Westbury Stud stallion El Roca was one of 10 horses who galloped at the track on Monday morning ahead of their intended engagements at the venue later in the week, with the track in quick condition and horses producing times faster than usual ahead of race day.
Joe Bowditch, who has ridden Esta La Roca in each of her four starts, partnered the New Zealand bred in her gallop. She worked alone and covered 800 metres in a hand-timed 51.09 seconds, with her final 400m in a slick 23.13s.
Esta La Roca resumed earlier this month by winning the seventh heat of the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge (955m), at Benchmark 64 level, in 54.94s, which is only the 13th occasion the winning time was sub-55 seconds.
However, Esta La Roca's heat win was the fourth time the 55-second mark has been broken this season, including the two quickest times for the distance range ever - Meteorite (54.54s) and Sartorial Splendor (54.65s) having both surpassed Vatican's record of 54.69s from February 2013 - which also indicates The Valley track is ripe for a record attempt.
