Hong Kong’s greatest ever racehorse Golden Sixty retires | HK Racing

Golden Sixty was greeted with thunderous applause on Sunday as Hong Kong’s greatest ever racehorse rode through the packed Sha Tin parade for the last time.

Farewell ceremonies aren’t known for being the most exciting events in Sha Tin, but even the most seasoned visitors couldn’t resist cheering and cheering as Hong Kong’s star sailed off into the sunset.

Golden Sixty, winner of 26 races and more than HK$167 million in prize money, was shown around by trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai, with partner in crime Vincent Ho Chak-yiu in the saddle.

Hordes of fans gathered at the racecourse to wave goodbye to the three-time Horse of the Year. The stands were filled with T-shirts, scarves, flags and artwork on the theme of the Golden Sixty.

Golden Sixty owner Stanley Chan Ka-leung received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

“It was brilliant,” Chan said. “It’s hard to put into words. I wish him a happy and healthy retirement and I will visit him often.”

The decision to hold the ceremony in the parade ring rather than have Golden Sixty race on the grass paid off, with fans rushing to escape the wet and windy conditions to watch the magnificent mile race.

There was also an exhibition celebrating Golden Sixty’s 10 Group 1 victories at the parade ring and a mural in honour of the rider.

Wunderbar is awesome

If John Size is to keep his expectations for the emerging Wunderbar in check, the sprinter did him no favours with a promising first win after a long break in Sha Tin on Sunday.

Wunderbar, who won four times in five starts last season, had not been seen since January 21. However, he put aside a 245-day absence to win the Class Three Tailorbird Handicap (1,200m) under Zac Purton.

The $1.55 odds favourite, who suffered an injury after his last start and required surgery to remove a bone fragment, dictated the race from the two-way grid and finished half a length clear of Lucy In The Sky, with Captain Win a further half a length behind him in third.

The son of Rich Enuff had only raced on a good track until Sunday’s race, but handled the soft surface with relative ease.

“He’s a quality horse,” Purton said. “He had to be to do what he did today, carrying top weight (134 pounds) on a soft track for the first time in eight months.”

After taking the lead from gate two, Wunderbar covered reasonable distances over the first 800 metres and went to the finish with a length lead.

He rode strongly under Purton and responded to the champion jockey’s urgings to keep going well in the closing stages.

He ran the last 400 meters about two and a half lengths slower than the standard time, clocking in at 1:09.65, six-tenths of a second outside the standard time.

Wunderbar’s return has been eagerly anticipated after the driver defeated rising star Ka Ying Rising twice last season, with his only defeat coming against Mugen.

With Ka Ying Rising now rated at 119 and Mugen running in the Group One Sprinters Stakes (1200m) in Japan next Sunday, Wunderbar’s victory came as no surprise to Size.

“He looked good, didn’t he?” said Size after his first win of the season. “It was a good performance after eight months out.

“I think his record from last season shows that he’s going to improve and it looked like he was a class above them, so that’s all we can expect. We’ll see what he has next time.”

Double pleasure for Hayes

David Hayes continued his impressive early season form and moved to the top of the trainers’ championship thanks to victories for Master Mastermind and Harmony N Blessed on Sunday.

Master Mastermind had been beaten at close odds in his five career starts but came into his own in the Class Four Swallow Handicap (1,400m) under Hugh Bowman.

“He had a bad barrier last time and he rode a really good race,” Hayes said. “This time he got a good barrier and Bowman rode a brilliant race. He had a bit of bad luck on the straight but the horse fought and was very tough. I’m sure he can win again.”

The son of Deep Field knocked on the door last term but failed to get his head in front, giving a good account of himself and sprinting home for fourth from gate 11 on the opening day of the season.

“He didn’t win in Hong Kong, but some of his races were great defeats,” Hayes said. “It was just a matter of time before things would work out and work.”

Harmony N Blessed was not embarrassed when finishing fourth in the Class One HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1,200m) on September 9 and the eight-year-old enjoyed a step down in class to win the Class Two Woodpecker Handicap (1,200m).

Harmony N Blessed defeated a strong field, including the winning Copartner Prance and the emerging talents Young Champion and Full Credit. He jumped over the rain-soft ground and won convincingly by a length and a quarter.

The son of Magnus gave Hayes his fifth win of the season and the first win of the season to South African Keagan de Melo.

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