Bookmakers believe it will be a straight fight between last year’s top two, Golden Sixty and California Spangle, in the Champions Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Golden Sixty is the favourite with William Hill at 1.67 as he attempts to become the first horse to win this race three times.
The 7-year-old has been raced exclusively at Sha Tin by trainer Francis Lui and only ever been ridden by Vincent Ho. This familiarity has resulted in 24 wins from 28 races, with eight victories at Grade 1.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: April 28th, 3:30 P.M. (BST)
Since last year’s triumph, he has three wins and a second, with the most recent outing a win in the Hong Kong Gold Cup in February, following January’s Stewards’ Cup.
Just over £1.2 million is on offer for the winner with Golden Sixty one of five dual winners slated to run.
Two lengths behind twelve months ago, California Spangle and jockey Zac Purton took revenge in December’s Hong Kong Mile; however, Tony Cruz’s 5-year-old has been beaten two more times by Golden Sixty since the 2022 Champions Mile.
3.00 on this occasion, he warmed up well by taking the Grade 2 Chairman’s Trophy just two weeks ago.
The next best in the market for the nine-horse contest are Voyage Bubble and My Oberon at 17.00.
Alexis Badel took his first ride on Voyage Bubble in March’s Hong Kong Derby last time out, resulting in a return to winning form. The 4-year-old has only finished outside the top three twice in 11 starts but has never run in graded company, let alone Grade 1.
Joao Moreira takes his first ride on My Oberon, who is racing in Hong Kong for the first time after six months in Australia with new trainer Annabel Neasham. Last time out he finished second at 31.00 to Mr Brightside in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick.
Third in the Chairman’s Trophy last time was 21.00 chance Beauty Joy’s best result for some time, though Hugh Bowman comes back into the saddle. Their partnership’s best result was fourth of nine in the Hong Kong Mile.
Aegon’s 2023 form has been nothing to shout about, hence the 26.00 price, but a change of jockey with James McDonald coming in might be what’s needed to rekindle the form that helped him finish second in the Grade 1 Captain Cook Stakes.
Waikuku is at 51.00 while at 67.00 are rank outsiders Glorious Dragon and Healthy Happy.
