How to bet the Hong Kong Mile

A field of extraordinary depth and talent has assembled for the Hong Kong Mile (G1) at Sha Tin Racecourse. Ten horses have been entered, including some of the most talented turf milers from around the world.

Hong Kong 4-Year-Old Classic Series sweeper #2 Golden Sixty—with a 13-for-14 record and 10 consecutive victories under his belt—looms as the favorite. But he’ll be joined in the starting gate by past Hong Kong Mile winners #1 Beauty Generation and #3 Admire Mars, 2019 Hong Kong Mile runner-up #6 Waikuku, 2018 Irish 2,000 Guineas (G1) winner #7 Romanised, and recent Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner #10 Order of Australia.

Golden Sixty, by virtue of his impressive win streak, has to be considered the runner to beat. The secret to his success is a spectacular turn of foot, which allows the son of Medaglia d’Oro to repeatedly rally from off the pace and score well-timed victories. It’s not uncommon for Golden Sixty to sprint the final 400 meters of a race in less than 22 seconds, as he did when charging to a 1 1/2-length victory in the Jockey Club Mile (G2) at Sha Tin last month.

Rather than get creative trying to beat Golden Sixty, I’ll acknowledge his sensational talent and key him on top in the trifecta. Underneath, I’ll afford appropriate respect to Order of Australia, Beauty Generation, Waikuku, and the speedy Jockey Club Mile runner-up #4 Ka Ying Star. But the horse I’ll emphasize is Admire Mars.

A three-time Group 1 winner, Admire Mars fired off a career-best effort to win the 2019 Hong Kong Mile, sprinting home in :22.22 to defeat Waikuku by half a length. Although the Japanese raider is 0-for-3 in his home country this season, he was hardly disgraced when finishing third by a length in the Mile Championship (G1) last month, beaten only by fellow Group 1 winners Gran Alegria and Indy Champ.

With internationally-renowned rider Ryan Moore taking the mount, Admire Mars is a logical candidate to finish in the top three. We’ll key him for second and third place behind Golden Sixty in our trifecta.

$4 trifecta: 2 with 3 with 1,4,6,10 ($16)
$4 trifecta: 2 with 1,4,6,10 with 3 ($16)
Total: $32

Good luck!