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Gibson quinellas the Sprint Cup

The one-time French based trainer Richard Gibson today combined with two visiting French jockeys to quinella the HKG2 Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin this afternoon (26 April) with Dundonnell and Gold-Fun.

Dundonnell winning the THE SPRINT CUP
Dundonnell winning the THE SPRINT CUP Picture: HKJC

Dundonnell, ridden by Stephane Pasquier, rallied late after a sweet run in transit to defy his front-running stablemate Gold-Fun – ridden by Olivier Peslier – by a length and a quarter with Smart Volatility three-quarters of a length back in third.

Gibson said he believed it was the first time he’d quinellaed a major race in Hong Kong. “We did go one, three in the Derby two years ago but I think this is a first one, two,” Gibson said in reference to the 2013 Hong Kong Derby he won with Akeed Mofeed, with today’s runner-up Gold-Fun in third place.

“It’s a big moment for us this season to run one, two here. It was another great performance from Gold-Fun. I was surprised to see him out in front but that was no fault of the jockey. He just jumped so well. In the end the five pounds, he gave to the winner, counted.

“Dundonnell was very good and given a great ride by Pasquier. The horse has had a brilliant season and the last thing I told the owner today was that I thought he could win,” Gibson said.

Gibson said he would not commit to any future plans on the spot. “You can’t decide these things immediately after a race but (Royal) Ascot would definitely be on the agenda for Gold-Fun. The owner will make the decision. Both horses would be good enough to go,” Gibson said.

Gold-Fun has been entered for the King’s Stand and Diamond Jubilee Stakes at the June Royal meeting in the UK.

Both Gibson sprinters began their careers overseas with Gold-Fun originally racing in Ireland and Dundonnell beginning his career in England.

The winning time was 1m 08.37s.

Gibson enjoyed a quick double as the four-year-old Giant Treasure won race nine, the Class 2 Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Handicap (1400m). The HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile victor Beauty Only ran on from the rear under Neil Callan to take second.


Hong Kong Jockey Club



Sha Tin Sunday, 26th April 2015

5f212y TURF GOOD FIRM
HKD $3,875,000

THE SPRINT CUP (HKG2)

HKD $3,875,000
Age: 3yo and up Type: OPEN
5f212y TURF GOOD FIRM
FP Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 5. DUNDONNELL (USA) 5yo G
FIRST DEFENCE (USA) - FAMILY (USA)
STEPHANE PASQUIER
R GIBSON
$14
123lbs
Elizabeth Lee Ho Ling
2nd 1. GOLD FUN (IRE) 6yo G
LE VIE DEI COLORI (GB) - GOODWOOD MARCH (GB)
OLIVIER PESLIER
R GIBSON
$3.2
128lbs

Sales Information

3rd 8. SMART VOLATILITY (AUS) 6yo G
DANEWIN (AUS) - SOMETHING FUNNY (AUS)
Y CHENG
K W LUI
$47
123lbs
Ms C Or
4th 3. PENIAPHOBIA (IRE) 4yo G
DANDY MAN (IRE) - UMLANI (IRE)
DOUGLAS WHYTE
A S CRUZ
$4.6
128lbs

Sales Information

5th 9. TOUR DE FORCE (AUS) 6yo G
AL SAMER (AUS) - TIGER BELLE (AUS)
OLIVIER DOLEUZE
JOHN SIZE
$30
123lbs

Sales Information

6th 7. FREDERICK ENGELS (GB) 6yo G
ICEMAN (GB) - COLONEL'S DAUGHTER (GB)
NASH RAWILLER
JOHN MOORE
$67
123lbs
7th 4. CHARLES THE GREAT (IRE) 6yo H
HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR (IRE) - JOJEEMA (GB)
TOMMY BERRY
JOHN MOORE
$3.6
123lbs

Sales Information

8th 10. TEOFILO CALVA (IRE) 5yo G
TEOFILO (IRE) - PETIT CALVA (FR)
KARIS TEETAN
JOHN SIZE
$6.8
123lbs

Sales Information

9th 2. LUCKY NINE (IRE) 8yo G
DUBAWI (IRE) - BIRJAND (GB)
BRETT PREBBLE
CASPAR FOWNES
$14
128lbs

Sales Information

10th 6. GOLDEN HARVEST (AUS) 6yo H
Al Maher (AUS) - Marzipan (NZ)
JOAO MOREIRA
TONY MILLARD
$16
123lbs

Sales Information

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