Hong Kong shipper Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}) made a good account of himself when a quarter-length second in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot, and the 7-year-old gelding will look to break new ground this Sunday by attempting to become the first Hong Kong-trained horse to win in France in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest.
Gold-Fun has been stabled with sprint specialist trainer Robert Cowell in Newmarket since his Ascot exploits.
“Post-Ascot he had a 10-day break at a speller's and then he's been in training at Rob's for six weeks,” explained trainer Richard Gibson, an Englishman who was formerly based in France. “Rob has a whole multitude of group-race sprinters in his barn now, and after being there the past few weeks we're happy with Gold-Fun's condition.”
“He did his last piece of work [Tuesday] and I'm very happy with the way he has recovered from his race at Ascot,” Cowell added. “The horse will arrive at Deauville the day before the race and weather conditions are expected to be good, so we're expecting a good track. Christophe Soumillon will be playing at home for once aboard Gold-Fun, so we'll be hoping he can give us some home jockey advantage.”
Gold-Fun, former champion miler in Hong Kong, won last year's Chairman's Sprint Prize, a local Group 1, as well as the G2 Jockey Club Sprint, but has been runner-up at the international Group 1 level four times. Gibson said he is hopeful the chestnut will be a bridesmaid no more come Sunday.
“I've had a look at the opposition and it's a tough European Group 1 sprint,” he admitted. “These aren't easy races to win and it's likely we'll have quite a big field, so draw is going to come into play as well.”
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