Double delight for Gibson as Doctor Dino delivers again
Richard Gibson, the Englishman who calls France home, landed his career highlight in the Hong Kong Vase last year and delivered a carbon copy yesterday, courtesy of a last-gasp lunge by his stable star Doctor Dino under a desperate Olivier Peslier.
Gibson, 39, has travelled the world with this amazing six-year-old stallion, who has given him a level of fame and recognition he never imagined possible. Together, they've placed in Group One races in six countries, and yesterday was his third major.
First prize in the Vase of HK$7,980,000 has boosted Doctor Dino's career earnings to more than HK$29.5 million and the trainer was only too delighted to deflect all credit to the animal himself.
'Today is all about Doctor Dino - he's just a remarkable athlete,' Gibson said.
'He's a very unique animal, very powerful and he's simply done a great job.'
Doctor Dino emulated the Clive Brittain-trained Luso, who went back-to-back in the Vase in 1996-97, but Gibson was not tempted towards making any rash predictions of a third attempt in 2009.
'My thanks to all my team, they've done a superb job with this horse. It has been a great day at the office,' he said.
'But we won't be making any decisions about next year at this moment.
'We just want to enjoy today.'
Doctor Dino was taken back by Peslier from his outside draw, while Douglas Whyte on Packing Winner took the field through the first 1,200 metres in very slow fractions.
Jamie Spencer on Purple Moon rode his mount more forward to take advantage of the slower tempo and looked like pulling it off when the white-faced chestnut forged to the front at the home turn.
But while Purple Moon is stout and admirable, Doctor Dino possesses the superior turn of foot but it was only in the final stride that he gained the ascendancy, nailing Purple Moon right on the line to claim first prize by a short-head margin in a thrilling finish.
Fans took to Doctor Dino in a surprisingly strong way. Despite his awkward draw, the chestnut opened an even-money favourite but drifted out to pay $23.
Luca Cumani expressed delight with the performance of Purple Moon, but lamented the fact of another big-race second - he's also been runner-up in the Melbourne Cup for the past two years with Purple Moon (2007) and Bauer last month.
'As long as the horses run well, I'm never disappointed, but it is a bit frustrating to keep running second - it would be nice to win one,' Cumani said, with lashings of understatement.
'The positive thing though is that he has run a great race in a Group One race at level weights and has proved he really belongs at this level.
'He's still relatively fresh and he won't need much to have him ready for next year.'
Cumani, who won the Hong Kong Cup on this day five years ago with the mighty Falbrav, said the US$5 million Sheema Classic at Nad al Sheba in late March would be Purple Moon's next target.
But he ruled out a return trip to Australia for the A$5.5 million Emirates Melbourne Cup.
'It's a handicap, and I think that's something you need to do before a horse is fully exposed - I think now he might get too much weight,' he said.
'A better idea would be the same plan as this year - the Japan Cup and then back to Hong Kong for another crack at the Vase.'
