4K影片 Hong Kong 三冠馬王 世紀之戰 - 金鎗六十 GOLDEN SIXTY-何澤堯 浪漫勇士-田泰安 加州星球-潘頓 - 2023董事盃 - 沙田馬場 2023年1月29日

4K影片 Hong Kong 三冠馬王 世紀之戰 - 金鎗六十 GOLDEN SIXTY-Vincent Ho Chak-yiu何澤堯 浪漫勇士-田泰安 加州星球-潘頓
2023董事盃 (國際一級賽) - 沙田馬場 2023年1月29日
影片拍攝 Ngan Piu
董事盃三雄對決　馬王「金鎗六十」再顯王者風範

應屆香港馬王「金鎗六十」以精湛表現擊退強敵，一舉攻下今日（1月29日）在沙田馬場舉行的一級賽董事盃（1600米），再次證明本身實力絲毫並未退減。賽後其練馬師呂健威及騎師何澤堯表示有意稍後安排此駒遠征海外大賽，向世界賽馬舞台進發。

作為香港賽馬最近三個年度馬季王者級佳駟，「金鎗六十」今仗末段再次交出其招牌式後勁，成功擊敗「浪漫勇士」及「加州星球」兩匹後起之秀奪得冠軍。憑此賽之勝，牠將本身所保持的香港賽駒最多頭馬紀錄進一步增至二十七戰二十三勝，其累積獎金更已高達129,690,600港元。

「金鎗六十」於去年董事盃負於「夏威夷」蹄下，因而未能追平一代短途馬王「精英大師」連勝十七場的紀錄。今年牠於此賽中一雪前恥，更以出色姿態掄元。其鞍上人何澤堯沿途將坐騎置於由潘頓主轡的「加州星球」之後，而由田泰安策騎的「浪漫勇士」則在「加州星球」外側競跑。

早段潘頓將坐騎以穩定步速領放，頭八百米締速為49.12秒，而何澤堯則於兩駒之後伺機而動。跑至轉彎位置，「浪漫勇士」是這三匹國際頂級佳駟中率先發力的一匹，田泰安開始對這匹兩項一級賽冠軍施以催策，嘗試上前挑戰「加州星球」。

此時「金鎗六十」仍留居「加州星球」後方，跑至直路何澤堯開始將坐騎移出，於最後二百米成功望空，牠隨即加速並趕過兩匹衝刺力已稍有不及的對手，最終以一個馬位之先率先衝線。這匹七歲馬於賽事最後八百米締速44.63秒，而賽事時間為1分33.99秒。

「浪漫勇士」以一馬頭位力壓「加州星球」得亞軍，而「加州星球」過終點時已拋離跑獲第四名的兩屆董事盃冠軍「夏威夷」三個半馬位之多，足證三匹星級賽駒實力何等高強。同時，此賽亦甚有機會成為今年國際馬壇其中一場評分最高的一哩途程一級賽。

Underlining enduring greatness with a towering performance to claim victory in a blockbuster G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (29 January), Golden Sixty could be bound for the international stage as Francis Lui and Vincent Ho plot future conquests for Hong Kong’s champion.

As Hong Kong’s benchmark performer over the past three seasons, Golden Sixty unleashed a trademark terminal sprint to eclipse two younger pretenders to his throne – Romantic Warrior and California Spangle – to extend his record for the most Hong Kong wins (23 from 27 starts), while boosting his prize money to an unmatched HK$129,690,600.

Beaten in the 2022 G1 Stewards’ Cup by Waikuku when attempting to equal Silent Witness’ streak of 17 consecutive wins, Golden Sixty’s redemption materialised in facile fashion as Ho patiently stalked Zac Purton on California Spangle, who was flanked by Karis Teetan and Romantic Warrior.

As Purton idled California Spangle through a sedate first 800m in 49.12s, Ho calmly bided his time before Teetan – racing at the leader’s flank – struck first as the trio rounded the home turn, urging dual G1 winner Romantic Warrior to challenge California Spangle in a clash of three world-class talents.

Sitting behind California Spangle, Ho angled Golden Sixty into clear running inside the final 200m and accelerated sharply as his two adversaries weakened, coming away to score by a length as the remarkable seven-year-old swept over the final 800m in a slick 44.63s for an overall time of 1m 33.99s.

Underscoring the trio’s class and superiority, there was a three and a half length gap from California Spangle to dual Stewards’ Cup victor and multiple G1 winner Waikuku at the end of what is likely to remain one of the world’s top-rated mile races for the year.

Ho, who has repeatedly acknowledged the quality of last month’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong International winners Romantic Warrior and California Spangle, was elated at securing Golden Sixty’s seventh Group 1 and second Stewards’ Cup triumph after a contest which lived up to pre-race hype.

“I’m just very happy for Golden Sixty. The team did great work after the last race and to come back to his optimum fitness was great,” Ho said, referring to the gelding’s runner-up performance behind California Spangle in the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) on 11 December.

“I still believe that he (Golden Sixty) is one of the best horses at a mile – you still have to respect our opponents – but I have to trust my horse.

“He was very comfortable (in the run) and this year he has not pulled, so when he jumped very well, he still dropped the bit and made it even easier for me to handle him and decide what position I wanted to get.

“If I wanted him to be faster, he will be and if I drop my reins, he will relax. So, when Zac picked the pace up at the half mile, he (Golden Sixty) still followed through very nicely without any effort. I think Golden Sixty still has the best turn of foot out of the three.”