Son of Medaglia d’Oro Takes Next Step Towards Classics in HK

[Wandering Eyes]

Dispatched as the $1.90 favourite despite having to shoulder top weight of 133 pounds against some seasoned Class 2 rivals, Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro) did little to dissuade those that see him as a factor in the upcoming 4-year-old Classics, streaking home to land the Saturday finale at Sha Tin by a solid 1 1/4 lengths.

With the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship-bound Vincent Ho in the irons, the 94-rated Golden Sixty took up a spot just ahead of midfield and one off the inside as they went a bit outside of standard through the opening 600 metres. But Golden Sixty worked into it nicely as the tempo increased at the 500m mark and though he appeared a bit one-paced at they entered the final 250 metres, he hit another gear inside the furlong and came away to a handsome score (video). A perfect three-from-three this preparation, he is now a winner of six of his seven lifetime appearances.

“He carried 133 pounds, so it wasn’t as easy as before, he felt it today, but he ran a good time and he was relaxed enough, he didn’t use much early and I’m happy the way he raced,” Ho said.

Trainer Francis Lui confirmed that the Jan. 27 Classic Mile is very much on the radar.

“He definitely feels like a Classic Mile horse and we’re aiming that way,” the conditioner said, nominating a course-and-distance Class 2 (for horses rated 105-80) Dec. 15 as a stepping-stone to that stakes debut.

Bred in Queensland by Asco International Pty Ltd., Golden Sixty was purchased by Riversley Park/Enigma Farm for A$120,000 from the Element Hill consignment at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2017. Lui signed the winning ticket when he bought Golden Sixty off Riversley Park at that year’s NZB Ready To Run sale for NZ$300,000.

Golden Sixty’s dam, the Irish stakes-placed Gaudeamus (Distorted Humor), was purchased carrying the colt in utero for $160,000 at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Produced by a half-sister to the US listed-placed Leo’s Pegasus (Fusaichi Pegasus), Golden Sixty is bred on a cross that has been hugely successful in the states, having produced Grade I winners Elate and New Money Honey and additional graded winners Mrs McDougal and Lady Montdore.

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