Armed with an impressive arsenal of G1 mounts at Sha Tin on Sunday (April 25), Vincent Ho is chasing perfection aboard Golden Sixty as the world’s second-ranked racehorse bids for a 14th consecutive win when he contests the HK$20 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) against only five rivals at Sha Tin.
Unbeaten since defeat in a 1400m Class 3 contest on 7 July 2019, the Hong Kong-trained 5-year-old will return to the fray at the weekend in quest of a 17th victory overall and a fourth successive G1 triumph.
Ho, who partnered the 2020 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner in light work at Sha Tin on Friday (April 23), is wary of tactical ambush in a small field featuring last year’s Champions Mile winner Southern Legend, Ka Ying Star, Mighty Giant, More Than This and Healthy Happy.
“With less horses, it’s less complicated, but you never under-estimate the challenge. You always have to ride perfectly,” Ho said of the impending challenge.
“He’ll settle anywhere he’s comfortable in the run. There are a couple of horses who are likely to go forward, but I don’t think the pace will be fast. It might not be a normal race, but we can adapt to whatever comes up.”
Ho typically reserves Golden Sixty for a withering finishing surge, often breaking 22 seconds for the final 400m.
He said Francis Lui’s champion was in fine fettle after this morning’s breeze-up. “I’m happy. I just had an easy gallop over six furlongs on him this morning and everything is good. There are no any concerns over him in any way. He feels very good.”
An impressive win could see the son of Medaglia D’Oro overtake Almond Eye, who retired at the end of 2020, at the top of the world rankings.
Ho, who rode Southern Legend to win the race last year, will also partner Stronger for Douglas Whyte in another of the three rich G1s on FWD Champions Day, the HK$18 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), and the Japanese mare Loves Only You in the race that promises to be the highlight of the meeting, the G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m).
Loves Only You, a Japanese Oaks winner, was a close third to world #3 Mishriff and #9 Chrono Genesis in the Dubai Sheema Classic last month and faces tough opposition on Sunday in the shape of fellow Japanese Glory Vase and Daring Tact, who won the fillies’ triple crown last year, as well as Hong Kong Horse of the Year Exultant.
“Loves Only You has settled very well and if she brings her form from Dubai, I think she will be very, very competitive,” Ho said. “It’s definitely a great opportunity, so bring it on.”