Hong Kong: World #2 Golden Sixty will miss his intended next start in the G1 Stewards’ Cup at Sha Tin on January 21 after a setback.
The leading prize-money earner in racing history, who landed his tenth G1 success with a brilliant victory earlier this month in the Hong Kong Mile, is sidelined with what was described by Hong Kong Jockey Club sources as a “minor leg issue” in his near-fore.
Speaking to the HKJC media team, trainer Francis Lui said Golden Sixty would be restricted to trotting exercises for three to four weeks
“We found, the day before yesterday [Wednesday] in the morning, a little bit of filling and a little bit of heat,” Lui told the HKJC team. “The vets did a check, a scan and an MRI – there’s nothing serious, but they sent a report to England.
“It’s very slight but of course, for the safety side, we don’t want to push him because the race is only three weeks’ time,” the trainer went on. “The vets said we can give him light trotting for three or four weeks and progressively we can check on him. The issue is just inside the pastern on his front left leg.”
Now eight, Golden Sixty returned from a 224-day break with a dominant performance to claim his third HK Mile victory at Sha Tin at the Longines-sponsored HK International Races card.
According to Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s exclusive Global Rankings, the gelded son of Medaglia d’Oro is now the world’s leading active racehorse after the retirement of Japan Cup hero Equinox. He has won 26 of 30 career starts, including ten G1 victories.
Moreover, with a career prize-money tally of HK$165.85m (approx. £16.2m/$18.9m), Golden Sixty is the world’s leading money earner of all-time, surpassing the mark achieved by Australia’s mighty mare Winx, whose legendary career ended with just over £14.56m banked (at IFHA exchange rates converted to pounds sterling).
Described as a ‘monster’ by jockey Vincent Ho after his most recent performance, Golden Sixty was set for two more runs in 2024 before retirement, with the Stewards’ Cup and FWD Champions Mile [April 28] on the agenda outlined by connections.
• Visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website
The world’s ten most expensive sires for 2024
A year in horse racing – revisit our most popular stories of 2023
Jay Hovdey: The great racehorse who provided many lessons for Christmas
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires