Francis Lui Kin-wai walked away from Thursday’s FWD Champions Day barrier draw hoping the weather gods are among Golden Sixty’s legion of fans after his fit-again superstar drew barrier seven for the Group One Champions Mile.

Not seen at the races since his mind-boggling Group One Hong Kong Mile demolition from gate 14 in December, Golden Sixty chases a record-extending fourth Champions Mile win from a barrier Lui confirmed “isn’t a worry”.

“I’m only worried about the weather,” said the veteran trainer as rain persisted at Sha Tin, like it has for much of this week.

“He’s very professional and he looks after himself. I think his condition has come up just in time.

“He’s shown us already what he can do. I’m happy and [jockey] Vincent [Ho Chak-yiu] is happy. He’s brought a lot of fun for us, the whole team. There won’t be another one like him.”

Beaten in his only start on ground worse than good when third in the 2022 Group One Gold Cup (2,000m) on a yielding surface, a forecast featuring showers and thunderstorms right up to Sunday’s marquee meeting means Golden Sixty is every chance to find similar conditions this weekend.

While a fourth Champions Mile win would see Golden Sixty achieve something unlikely to be repeated, a sub-par showing from the three-time Horse of the Year could hold even more significance for a galloper in the twilight of his career.

“We will see what he does on Sunday before we talk about retirement,” Lui said. “What if he wins by many lengths? It all depends. He really enjoys racing so we will let the horse tell us.”

Elsewhere in the Champions Mile, Group One winner Voyage Bubble will jump from gate six, excitement machine Galaxy Patch has drawn one and leading Japanese hope Obamburumai must overcome barrier 10.

Local star Romantic Warrior was also dealt gate 10 ahead of his bid for a record third straight Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) success, while Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero Massive Sovereign will find it much easier to tackle Sha Tin’s testing 10-furlong start from gate two.

Japan’s Prognosis and Britain’s Dubai Honour, who filled the placings behind Romantic Warrior in the race 12 months ago, have drawn five and nine, respectively, while Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m) sixth placegetter Straight Arron jumps from six.

“Not too bad, just 11 horses. Not much speed and you don’t know with the weather – if it’s raining or not,” trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing said of Romantic Warrior’s gate.

Shum also saddles up a key player in the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m), with Victor The Winner a chance to find himself in a speed battle with favourite California Spangle from gate two.

Fresh off his victory in Dubai’s Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m), California Spangle will push forward from gate seven and, like Lui, Tony Cruz is thinking more about the weather than the draw.

“Seven seems to be a lucky number for me and I’m very happy with the draw. I’m just hoping it’s a good track. I wouldn’t like it to be a rainy day – it’s no fun, it ruins things,” Cruz said.

Mad Cool, who cleaned up Victor The Winner when winning last month’s Group One Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1,200m) on home soil in Japan, has the outside alley of 11 to contend with, while David Hall experienced varying fortunes with up-and-coming pair Flying Ace and Invincible Sage.

“I probably would have preferred to be [further in] with Flying Ace. He’s always had to do it tough from the wide draws. Eight of 11 is not inside, so Zac [Purton] will probably have to do a bit of homework there just to see whether he rides him the normal pattern or whether he takes his chance to be a little bit closer,” Hall said.

“Invincible Sage showed he has got really good gate speed the other day and I think from that gate, with Victor The Winner in two, he’ll be able to get a really good position.”