Richard Gibson is “looking forward to Sunday” when the HK$10 million G1 Stewards Cup (1600m) and HK$8 million HKG1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) will afford his stable standouts Giant Treasure and Gold-Fun further opportunities to snare feature race glory.
Sprint star Gold-Fun is already a 1200m course winner in this grade having swept home late and fast to short-head subsequent Champion Sprinter Aerovelocity and take out last season’s HKG1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize. Stewards’ Cup candidate Giant Treasure, on the other hand, snared his best Hong Kong win in a Class 2 handicap last April, but that fact belies the classy grey’s real ability.
Giant Treasure has to his name a string of close-up efforts in Group races, none more notable than the latest, a career peak second to Japan’s outstanding miler Maurice in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile on 13 December. Gibson’s charge was three quarters of a length second on that occasion. A further neck behind him was Hong Kong’s usually imperious mile champion, Able Friend, who is now sidelined due to injury.
“We’ve never hidden our opinion of the horse,” said Gibson. “He’s a very talented racehorse, so to perform on the biggest stage of all was satisfying. The day you beat Able Friend and don't win a Group 1 is a bit of a bitter pill but the winner is one of the best horses in Japan, so it was a fantastic performance.”
Giant Treasure ran a blinder. He was entitled to. One of last season’s leading four-year-olds, he had placed third in both the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile and HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m). This term he had matured through four solid runs to enter calculations as a live outsider for Hong Kong’s premier international mile feature, and his fine performance in that showcase event has catapulted him to an international rating of 119.
The Mizzen Mast gelding has given every indication in his work since that he will likely be a major force in Sunday’s contest, the first leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown series and a race that is set to feature star gallopers Blazing Speed, Designs On Rome, Luger, Contentment and Military Attack. Giant Treasure cruised through a recent 1000m turf barrier trial, posting prominently and coasting home in third, only a half-length behind crack sprinter Peniaphobia.
“As ever, he worked exceptionally well, we’re very pleased with his preparation,” said Gibson. “When you’ve just run in a Group 1 and put in a career best performance it gives you heart going into the next one, and it’s certainly an easier race on paper than the previous.”
Christophe Soumillon will jet in from Europe to partner Giant Treasure for the third time in as many starts. The Belgian ace will also team up with fellow Pan Sutong-owned Gold-Fun on whom he won this season’s G2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) as well as last season’s Chairman’s Sprint Prize.
“It always helps having one of the best jockeys in the world on your horses,” said Gibson.
Soumillon is yet to finish out of the frame in four outings aboard Gold-Fun. The Le Vie Dei Colori seven-year-old is one of the most consistent horses in training and closed off late to get to within a half-length second of Peniaphobia in last month’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint. The chestnut rolled home under his own steam mid-pack in the recent 1000m barrier trial ‘won’ by Sunday’s re-opposing rival.
“Gold-Fun is in great nick,” said Gibson. “If anything we’ve just got to jump him out a bit better, he’s a bit slow at the break but we’ve been very happy with his prep. As ever with Gold-Fun, he’ll take a lot of beating.”
Also among the 13 expected to line up in what is the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series are Aerovelocity, Not Listenin’to me, Lucky Nine, Super Jockey, Amber Sky and Strathmore.
