Even in these current challenging times, nothing quickens the pulse as much as the prospect of Group 1 competition.
Despite the worsening COVID conditions, we are fortunate to have two elite contests as a welcome distraction at Sha Tin on Sunday, including the reappearance of Hong Kong’s equine champion Golden Sixty, who attempts to rebound after rare defeat last month.
Unfortunately, we have to keep racing behind closed doors for a period of time due to the deteriorating COVID situation.
In the circumstances, we are grateful for the continued support of our valued customers and I hope that, even watching the races from home, that everyone can gain the sense of occasion and excitement that comes with Group 1 competition.
The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup is the world’s richest Group 1 race run over 1400 metres on turf and Waikuku will be favoured to win this prestigious race for the second straight year. He comes off an upset win over Golden Sixty in the Stewards’ Cup last month and is in top form. The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup is carded as the third race and the Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup is the eighth event on Sunday.
Waikuku tends to perform at his best for two to three races each campaign and looking at his trackwork, he is in peak condition.
Jockey Zac Purton will relax Waikuku behind a good pace set by Ka Ying Star, Healthy Happy and Californiadeepshot. Waikuku won three straight races over the course and distance early in his career before becoming a top miler. He ran an excellent final 400m of 21.84s at his last attempt over 1400m, when he won the 2021 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and he has won four of five races at the distance. He is my first choice as a win and place chance to repeat.
Ka Ying Star will be ridden by Matthew Chadwick and will go forward to make the running with Californiadeepshot and Karis Teetan. Jockey Harry Bentley will also be in the early mix with Healthy Happy. The pace will be only modest for a group of horses at this level.
Sky Field is the main danger and has demonstrated the ability to win over this trip when he took out the Group 3 Premier Cup in June. He also comes into the race in top form, just missing out on a chance for consecutive Group 1 wins when he missed by a head to Stronger in the Centenary Sprint Cup last month. He will make his run from the back under regular rider Blake Shinn and is a solid place chance.
Wellington failed in his only attempt at this trip but that was earlier in his career and he deserves another chance. He is well drawn to get a ground-saving trip inside midfield and will get every chance. Alexis Badel has the return engagement and I make Wellington a place chance. Healthy Happy disappointed in the Stewards’ Cup but that was due to a substantial amount of blood in his trachea in his last start and I make him a place chance here with new jockey Harry Bentley.
Golden Sixty and Russian Emperor have drawn the outside gates in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000 metres, which will make their assignments a bit more challenging. The pace scenario can easily develop into a sit and sprint, and this is will be a tactical race with many horses looking to make their bid at the 600-metre mark.
The race will be run at a slow tempo with Reliable Team as the sole leader from the inside gate with Harry Bentley. Last-start winner Zebrowski will take up a stalking position under Matthew Poon but none of the runners will be keen through the early stages.
Golden Sixty has won both of his races over the course and distance by short margins. He won last year’s Hong Kong Gold Cup and the 2020 BMW Hong Kong Derby, stretched to the absolute limit on both occasions. This will be no different. He will need to be at his very best to win.
Golden Sixty was too far back at his last run and had to come four-wide and still ran an incredible final last sectional of 21.95s and has not lost my admiration in his defeat. While the 2000m is a little bit of a stretch, the main issue will be if he relaxes in a race run at a likely moderate pace, but his main advantage above all opponents is his amazing ability to run an astonishing time over the last 400m when tackling 2000m.
He ran 21.83s when winning the BMW Hong Kong Derby and 22.35s in last year’s Hong Kong Gold Cup.
Jockey Vincent Ho will take him back from the wide draw and the slow pace will force him to deliver big closing sectionals, which he has been proven to do so. After finishing second to Waikuku in his last start, snapping a 16-race win streak, I make Golden Sixty a win and place chance to bounce back in a very competitive race. Vincent will need to creep closer as the race unfolds and then take Golden Sixty to the outside for a clear run.
Russian Emperor has a similar gate as he did when a good third in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup in December. He is in top form and jockey Blake Shinn will try to secure a midfield position to get a jump on Golden Sixty. He is a place chance.
Tourbillon Diamond could spoil the party. He has been very consistent this season and maps to get a nice run from midfield with Alexis Badel. He is a place chance along with BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Sky Darci, who will be ridden by Karis Teetan.
More Than This finished third in Golden Sixty’s Derby and could be a surprise under a masterful ride of Zac Purton because he should be well positioned in midfield.
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