By Alan Carasso
Eyeing an appearance in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita Nov. 4, Hong Kong-based Gun Pit (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}) took an important and positive next step Tuesday by finishing a close second in a 1200-meter barrier trial over the dirt surface at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Drawn wide in gate eight, the 6-year-old gelding was settled behind midfield and in the clear and began to improve his position when taken down to the inside on the turn. Zac Purton shook up Gun Pit just a touch in upper stretch and his response was immediate, as he quickened up nicely to be the narrow runner-up, then galloped out very strongly (video). His individual time was a sharp 1:10.23.
“He seems to be in better form than he was earlier in the season,” said Purton, who will likely ride Gun Pit in the Breeders' Cup barring any conflicts that weekend during the Melbourne spring carnival. “He's trialling with a little bit more purpose now and he seems to be moving better, so it looks at this stage like he's going to go to America. He feels fine–there's nothing wrong with the way he's going.”
Gun Pit, second in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge – R3 last March, was an intended runner in the inaugural Keeneland Korea Cup Sept. 11, but a dull trial coupled with trainer Caspar Fownes's belief that his runner might not handle the sandy surface at Seoul, led to his withdrawal.
Gun Pit is unbeaten in seven starts over the Sha Tin dirt track.
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