Waikuku delivered a stunning blow at Sha Tin this afternoon (Sunday, 23 January) to deny Golden Sixty a record-equalling win in the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m).
Aiming to extend his unbeaten sequence to 17 – the champion’s win streak ended after a second-place finish in the afternoon’s feature – his first defeat in nearly 900 days, leaving Silent Witness alone as the sole record-holder for consecutive wins in Hong Kong.
Given a supreme ride by Zac Purton, Waikuku lifted for his second Stewards’ Cup success after prevailing in 2020, giving trainer John Size a seventh win in the race.
“I was really happy with the way the race was run, I was in a lovely rhythm and I knew he was going to give me a kick but with Golden Sixty in the race, you’re never home until you pass the post.”
“He’s run many horses down the last few years, he’s a champion and obviously the race wasn’t run to suit him today,” Purton said of Golden Sixty.
Golden Sixty was nothing short of courageous this afternoon – clocking a slick 21.95s for his final 400m of the race – a herculean performance, especially from the tail of the field.
Boasting a 16-win streak – as part of his glittering career – Golden Sixty lost no admirers today in defeat – his first since July, 2019 as he scrambled to catch Waikuku.
But now, it’s onwards and upwards for the brilliant son of Medaglia d’Oro who will next be tasked with either the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) or defending his crown in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) on Sunday, 20 February at Sha Tin.
“The horse is ok – he appears to have pulled up well,” trainer Francis Lui said. "It was just the draw. The way the race was run, he needed to be closer but, from the inside, it wasn't possible today.”
Earning HK$2.64 million for second, Golden Sixty edges ever closer to the HK$100 million mark and Beauty Generation’s all-time record of HK$106.23 million.
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