Hong Kong stalwart Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}), who began his career in Ireland with Ger Lyons, will remain in Europe for the summer, with the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville his main target. Despite earning over €5m in prizemoney, the Richard Gibson-trained 7-year-old has yet to win a Group 1, though he came agonisingly close in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot when beaten a neck into second by Twilight Son (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) earlier this month. Gibson, who trained in France before embarking on his career in Hong Kong, feels the Deauville race will suit the Sutong Pan-owned gelding.
“I know the French programme well and the Maurice de Gheest is a very unique distance, running 1300 metres down a straight,” Gibson told South China Morning Post. “After finishing off so strongly over 1200m at Royal Ascot, I think that extra 100m will suit him. The feeling is that there aren't many options in Hong Kong for him anymore, it's a little sharp for him over 1200m at Sha Tin, but the variations in Europe are well suited for him.”
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