Richard Gibson is optimistic Wellington is well placed to challenge – and potentially surpass – the Royal Ascot feats of the Englishman’s former stable star Gold-Fun when Hong Kong’s reigning Champion Sprinter contests the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Gold-Fun finished an unlucky second when he failed by only a neck to overhaul Twilight Son in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) in 2016 when Gibson campaigned the seven-year-old in Europe after a decorated Hong Kong career.
Gibson believes Wellington, winner of four Group 1 contests in Hong Kong, can contend strongly in Saturday’s feature after the six-year-old travelled well to England at the weekend.
“I think definitely that Gold-Fun went to Ascot a year too late – he had peaked in form. I don’t think that’s the case with Wellington and we’ve seen him run three brilliant races this year and a few of the other races went against him when it was not a question of his own personal form,” Gibson said, confirming the gelding had travelled “very well” to Manton, west of London.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge. Hong Kong sprinters have always been very competitive abroad and I hope to continue that trait. Wellington’s stepping up to the challenge. We’re going for the challenge and hopefully it will pay off. We’re pretty relaxed about turf conditions, as long as they’re not extreme.
“I’m delighted with the condition I’ve got the horse in. We could not have been happier with the trial last week (Tuesday, June 13). I thought the horse showed a lot of energy and power and we’re looking forward to the Ascot challenge on Saturday.”
To be ridden by Ryan Moore, who piloted the All Too Hard gelding to victory in the 2022 Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on December 11, Wellington has contested four Group 1 races in Hong Kong this season, finishing no worse than third.
He will confront a select cluster of international runners on Saturday, including Australian Group 1 winner Artorius who, like Wellington, has been successfully partnered by champion Hong Kong jockey Zac Purton.
With Purton committed to chasing down Joao Moreira’s record of 170 victories in a single season, the Australian says there is not much between Wellington and Artorius, whom he piloted to victory in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick Racecourse on March 4.
“I haven’t looked at the field, so I can only talk about the two horses I have ridden and I think they’re both capable. Certainly, if they both turn up on the day, they can clearly win and I think they’re both going into it in pretty good form. Let’s hope they can do it for their connections,” said Purton, who rode Wellington in five starts, winning three times and placing once.
“It’s a shame that I can’t be there with either of them but obviously I have more important things here in Hong Kong at the moment, so it was a tough decision to make but it’s a position I’m in and I’ll be watching with interest.”
Purton was aboard Little Bridge when Danny Shum’s speedster won the 2012 Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) and rates the success as the launching pad of his Hong Kong career.
“That win meant a lot for me, especially at the time in my career. When I came to Hong Kong, a lot of the riders were well established, so it was incredibly hard for me to get on a good horse at the top level and Little Bridge for me was the first one to come along,” Purton said.
“He helped me take that next step and be viewed in the owners and trainers’ eyes in Hong Kong that I was capable of riding that quality of horse in those types of races, so he really opened the door for me.
“Winning at Royal Ascot was massive for me. At the time, I didn’t really realise the enormity of winning a race at Royal Ascot and everything that comes with it. It’s only been later, that is sunk in for me – it was a career-defining moment.”
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