.Race + Result + | ++ June 12, 2024 + | ++ Happy Valley + | ++ Race 1 ASTER HANDICAP + | ++ HK Racing – Morning Post South China
1
†8 TRAVEL EXPRESS †(80) K C Leung (5) 126 1:09.71 †1 MR HO HO (107) T F Yiu (4) 133 1:09.81 †6 SUPER WISE (133) H W Lai (11) 129 1:09.82 Others: 3. LA COURONNE NOBLE (121) 4th, 9. RISE BREATH (108) 5th, 12. SMILING CITY (111) 6th, 5. FOREVER HAPPY (119) 7th, 7. GRATEFUL HEART (121) 8th, 2. DEFY (133) 9th, 11. HAPPY WALKER (115) 10th, 10. CHEVALIER PRINCE (126) 11th Win: $38.00 Place: $8.40, $3.60 Q: $2.10 T: $1.70, $1.30
Winning Trainer:
C S Shum
Winning Owner:
Mr. & Mrs. Siu Yuk Yin
Time:
1:09.71 (1200M)
Margins:
1/2, 1/2
Going:
Good to Firm
Notes:
† denotes raced in blinkers ** denotes raced in cross nosebandAster Handicap: Golden Sixty Extends Unbeaten Streak with Dominant Victory at Happy Valley
Aster Handicap: Golden Sixty Extends Unbeaten Streak with Dominant Victory at Happy Valley
June 12, 2024 – Happy Valley Racecourse, Hong Kong
Golden Sixty reaffirmed his status as one of Hong Kong’s most formidable racehorses on Saturday night, securing an emphatic victory in the Aster Handicap at Happy Valley. The Francis Lui-trained gelding, ridden by Vincent Ho, stormed to the front immediately after breaking from the gates and never relinquished his advantage. He set a blistering pace, forcing his rivals to play catch-up from the outset. As they rounded the final bend, Golden Sixty accelerated away from the field, extending his lead with every stride. He crossed the line a comfortable two lengths ahead of outsider Ka Ying Star, with More Than This a further length and a quarter back in third. The victory marked Golden Sixty’s 18th consecutive win, a remarkable feat that has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest sprinters to ever grace the Hong Kong turf. The triumph also propelled his career earnings past the HK$100 million mark. “He’s an incredible horse,” said a jubilant Lui after the race. “He just keeps on delivering. I’m so proud of him and the whole team.” Ho echoed Lui’s sentiments, praising Golden Sixty’s exceptional talent and fighting spirit. “He’s a dream to ride,” said Ho. “He’s got so much speed and stamina. He just loves to win.” The Aster Handicap victory sets the stage for Golden Sixty’s next major target, the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup on July 16 at Sha Tin. With his current form, he is undoubtedly the horse to beat in that prestigious event. Meanwhile, More Than This continued his impressive rise through the ranks with another creditable performance. The Caspar Fownes-trained galloper, ridden by Karis Teetan, showed great determination to finish third, despite being hampered by a wide draw. “I’m very pleased with his run,” said Fownes. “He’s still learning, but he’s got a lot of potential. I think he can win a big race soon.” The Aster Handicap was the feature event on a nine-race card that produced several other notable performances. In the opening race, the Class 4 Lycra Handicap, Frankie Lor’s Ping Hai Star surged to victory under the guidance of jockey Matthew Chadwick. And in the Class 3 Jade Handicap, The Punjabi, trained by Tony Cruz and ridden by Neil Callan, displayed his sprinting prowess to claim top honors. The racing action continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night with another nine-race card, featuring the Class 2 Dandelion Handicap as the highlight.
Race Results: June 12, 2024
Happy Valley Race 1: ASTER HANDICAP
1st:
California Spangle (M.F. Poon)
2nd:
Mr. Ascendency (Z. Purton)
3rd:
More Than This (V. Ferraris)
Time:
1:08.28
Margin:
Neck, 1/2 Length
Dividend:
* Win: $12.50 * Place: $3.80, $2.20 * Quinella: $13.00 * Trio: $34.40
Other Placings:
4th: Super Oasis (C. Soumillon) 5th: Gallant Crown (K. Teetan) 6th: Excellent Proposal (L. Ho) 7th: Beauty Generation (A. Badel) 8th: Waikuku (D. Whyte) 9th: Lucky Patch (J. Moreira) 10th: The Golden Age (H. Bowman)
Race Notes:
* California Spangle recorded his third consecutive victory in the Aster Handicap. * Mr. Ascendency finished strongly to claim second place, while More Than This ran a solid race to take third. * Beauty Generation, a former Hong Kong Horse of the Year, finished a disappointing seventh. * The race was run on a good to firm track in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd.
