Gold-Fun Goes for More 'Silver'

Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}), winner of the 2014 G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, looks for his second victory in three years Sunday afternoon, a race which lost at least some of its luster when it was announced earlier in the week that top 4-year-old Thewizardofoz (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) would be scratched.

Belgian maestro Christophe Soumillon teamed up with the flashy chestnut colt to best Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint Nov. 21, but he could not quite catch his positively ridden rival and dropped a half-length decision to the Dubai-bound Peniaphobia in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint Dec. 13. He fell victim to a superb return effort from 2014 Sprint hero Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) in the Centenary Sprint Cup over 1200 metres Jan. 31, but it's all systems go at this more intermediate trip Sunday.

“This is the race we've been looking forward to all year,” said trainer Richard Gibson. “He's had another fantastic season–he's raced against some of the best sprinters in the world, so we're in good shape again for the race and we're looking forward to it.”

Beauty Only (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), a good third to Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) in the G2 Jockey Club Cup over the 2000 metres in November, weakened to be eighth in the Hong Kong Cup, but cut back to the metric mile for the Stewards' Cup Jan. 31 and was home in :22.33 to finish 1 1/4 lengths adrift in fourth. He sports a win and a second from two-tries at Sunday's trip.

Contentment (Aus) (Hussonet) gave a solid account of himself when fifth behind Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) in the Hong Kong Mile Dec. 13, then cut back to this distance and was a no-cover third behind Multivictory (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) in a domestic Group 3 Jan. 1. The chestnut exits a neck defeat at the hands of Giant Treasure (Mizzen Mast) in the G1 Stewards' Cup over a mile Jan. 31.