Richard Gibson has declared ‘it’s all systems go’ for Wellington to embark on a Royal Ascot tilt next week after Hong Kong’s reigning Champion Sprinter cruised through a 1000m turf trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning.
Preparing for the Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) on Saturday 24 June, Wellington finished half a length behind Beauty Charge in third place while clocking 57.94s under Alexis Badel, who kept the four-time Group 1 winner under restraint throughout the hit-out.
Wellington was given a leisurely hit-out (Pic – HKJC)
The performance delighted Gibson, who hopes Wellington can become Hong Kong’s first Royal Ascot winner since Danny Shum-trained Little Bridge won the Gr1 King’s Stand Stakes (1006m) in 2012. David Oughton-trained Cape Of Good Hope was Hong Kong’s first victor at the Royal meeting with success in the Gr1 Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at York in 2005.
“There’s no greater judge than Alexis to base his (Wellington’s) form and condition on and we’re really satisfied with the trial,” Gibson said.
Explaining the understated nature of the trial, Gibson said: “It’s hot and we’ve got to travel in a few days. He did everything perfectly today. He’s on the plane on Saturday and we’re looking forward to it. It was a good boost to see him work so well this morning.”
Richard Gibson has high hopes (Pic – HKJC)
Gibson will return to Royal Ascot hoping Wellington can go one better than his former stable star Gold-Fun, who ran second in 2016 when beaten a neck by Twilight Son in the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m).
Acclaimed as Hong Kong’s Champion Sprinter for the last season, Wellington added another Group 1 title to his imposing portfolio of achievements with victory last December in the 2022 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) under Ryan Moore, who reunites with the All Too Hard gelding at Royal Ascot next week.
Since winning the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, Wellington has posted four successive placings – including three at Gr1 level – behind the world’s top-rated sprinter Lucky Sweynesse to underscore his consistency and quality.
Royal Ascot 2023 is set to take place from Tuesday 20 June to Saturday 24 June 24.
It is the highlight of the Flat season in Britain and there are a whopping 35 races on the schedule for this year’s five-day festival.
A total of eight Group 1 contests feature at the meeting including the biggest renewal of the week, the Gold Cup, which looks set to be a wide-open contest as defending champion Kyprios is set to be absent, while the legendary Stradivarius has retired to stud.
