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Derek Leung has been in fine form recently with five wins from the last three race meetings and this Wednesday at Happy Valley he is looking to maintain his momentum with a full book of nine rides as he eyes a new personal best.
“I will do my best (to beating his personal best), why not? The horses that I am riding and the new horses coming through have a good future, I think I will do even better in the second half of the season - it’s my target to set a new personal best,” Leung said.
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Golden Sixty and Vincent Ho win the Classic Mile at Sha Tin Racecourse, in Sha Tin Hong Kong on Monday, January 27, 2020. (Photo: Alex Evers)
After his devastating win in last month s Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile, hometown hero Golden Sixty pleased his connections at Sha Tin this morning with a trial in typical fashion ahead of the G1 Stewards Cup (1,600 meters) on Jan. 24.
“I m happy with his trial, in the trial you can relax him – he doesn t show much, he never does,” trainer Francis Lui said.
The son of Medaglia d Oro went through his first barrier trial of the new year under his own steam, traveling wide throughout before crossing the line fourth, while the Caspar Fownes-trained Southern Legend went home best in a time of 1:11.73 with stablemate Rise High just behind him.
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Golden Sixty and Vincent Ho win the Classic Mile at Sha Tin Racecourse, in Sha Tin Hong Kong on Monday, January 27, 2020. (Photo: Alex Evers)
Wary and respectful of world-class opposition, trainer Francis Lui carries a characteristically understated sense of confidence into the Grade 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile with Golden Sixty at Sha Tin on Sunday, hopeful his flagbearer can continue an extraordinary winning streak.
Only the fourth horse to win 10 consecutive races in Hong Kong s professional era – a feat achieved by Silent Witness, Co-Tack and Sunday s adversary Beauty Generation – Golden Sixty faces his biggest challenge at the weekend against a line-up packed with quality.
Overall: 16: 12-1-2, International Rating: 121
Stunningly consistent galloper with 12 wins, one second and two thirds from 16 starts. Beat subsequent Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) victor Sottaass in G3 at Deauville three starts back. Also won the G2 Prix Dollar (1950m) at Longchamp and last time out he was second behind Adeyybb in the G1 British Champion Stakes (1993m). Another powerful finisher who likes rain-affected ground but has also won on good going.
2 – DANON PREMIUM
Overall: 13: 6-2-1,
International Rating: 119
Precocious talent who was crowned JRA’s Champion 2YO Colt in 2017, unbeaten in 3 runs culminating with an easy win in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (1600m). Won a 2000m G2 early in 2018 but suffered his first career defeat in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (2400m). Showed a resurgence of form as a 4yo, first with two G2 scores over 1600m and 2000m, then a creditable 2nd to Almond Eye in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) and second also to Indy Champ in the G