The one-time champion miler in this part of the world, Gold-Fun is another of the jurisdiction's top-shelf runners who has seen his career path altered by the presence of Able Friend. Though he has always run with credit over further, Gold-Fun was equally proficient at shorter trips, or at least that's what trainer Richard Gibson would have you believe. The flashy chestnut, partnered Saturday by flamboyant Belgian Christophe Soumillon, continued to make Gibson look good with a something-left-in-the-tank victory in the Jockey Club Sprint.
Runner-up to the reigning Horse of the Year in last year's Hong Kong Mile and sixth in the Stewards' Cup, Gold-Fun cut back to six panels, and, with Soumillon in for the ride, charged past last year's Hong Kong Sprint hero Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) in the Chairman's Sprint Prize in February. Third to Able Friend in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400 meters in March, he completed a Gibson 1-2 behind Dundonnell (First Defence) in the Sprint Cup in April, and but for a freakish performance from Able Friend in the Premier Bowl, would have gotten the season off on a winning note Oct. 25.
Peniaphobia, this race's defending champ and second in the big race, was sent from his widest draw to make the front by Joao Moreira, but they had to work hard to do it, with the likes of Super Jockey (NZ) (Sandtrap), Not Listenin'tome and Dundonnell also showing keen early interest. Those events left Soumillon and Gold-Fun with some open space from sixth position, and the duo were happy to allow what appeared to be a cracking pace take its toll on those that chose to race prominently. Despite the taxing splits, Peniaphobia wasn't backing down and looked a winning chance at the quarter pole, but Not Listenin'tome was looming to his outside, while Gold-Fun was tracking that one into the final stages, looking loaded for bear. The pacesetter was holding on grimly, but Gold-Fun came with his relentless rally and proved too good in the finish, as Peniaphobia, Not Listenin'tome and senior citizen Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) picked up the minor shares.
“He won by a good margin and Richard said he was unfit today, so I reckon he will be better next time,” said Soumillon. “You can see he was stooping a bit, looking around and hanging right, so I had to try to get him to concentrate at the end. I did not want to let them run away so I had to come out and he gave me a very good turn-of-foot. I hit the front too early.”
A first-crop Frankel (GB) half-sister to Gold-Fun sold for ¥96 million as a foal at the 2014 JRHA Select Sale in Japan.
Saturday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
BOCHK WEALTH MANAGEMENT JOCKEY CLUB SPRINT-G2, HK$4,000,000 (US$516,121), Sha Tin, 11-21, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.37, gd.
1–GOLD-FUN (IRE), 128, g, 6, by Le Vie Dei Colori (GB)
1st Dam: Goodwood March (GB), by Foxhound
2nd Dam: Military Tune (Ire), by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Martingale (GB), by Luthier (Fr)
(10,000gns Ylg '10 TATOCT). O-Pan Sutong; B-Michael Downey & Roalso Ltd; T-Richard Gibson; J-Christophe Soumillon; HK$2,280,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. Miler-HK, MG1SP-HK, 26-11-7-2. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Peniaphobia (Ire), 128, g, 4, Dandy Man (Ire)–Umlani (Ire), by Great Commotion. (€11,000 Wlg '11 GOFNOV; £20,000 Ylg '12 DONAUG). O-Huang Kai Wen; B-Aidan Fogarty; T-Tony Cruz; HK$880,000.
3–Not Listenin'tome (Aus), 123, g, 5, Dylan Thomas (Ire)–Flame of Sydney (Aus), by Encosta de Lago (Aus). (A$270,000 Ylg '12 INGEAS). O-Matthew Wong; B-M A Pitt; T-John Moore; HK$460,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NO, NO. Odds: 1-1, 31-10, 44-10.
Also Ran: Lucky Nine (Ire), Charles the Great (Ire), Strathmore (Aus), I'm In Charge (Aus), Dundonnell, Golden Harvest (Aus), Super Jockey (NZ), Smart Volatility (Aus).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, HKJC.com PPs and VIDEO. Click for the Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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