Richard Gibson says he will not regret his Hong Kong move for a minute if his former charge, Dunaden, wins today's Melbourne Cup.
Dunaden was one of the horses Gibson left behind in France when he relocated to the city four months ago and the entire will start second favourite in today's Flemington feature.
Rather than wondering 'what if?', Gibson prefers to look at the positives and finds immense satisfaction in the continued development of the five-year-old.
'I feel a lot of pride. He is a horse I bought privately and he is a horse that has gone up dramatically in the handicaps since I bought him. It's great he has continued to improve this year. It's really great the owners have got a huge live shout in the Melbourne Cup.'
Gibson walked away from a thriving stable in France, most of his 30-plus team heading to Dunaden's new trainer, Mikel Delzangles. The affable Englishman remains on good terms with the horse's owner, Qatari royal Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, even knocking back an all-expenses paid trip to Melbourne to watch the race.
Dunaden matches the profile of 2010 winner and this year's race favourite, Americain, and has strong form around the fellow French-trained galloper. Both won the Geelong Cup as a lead-up in impressive fashion, carrying the same weight and received the same Cup penalty - three pounds - for their respective victories.
Top French rider Christophe Lemaire takes the ride on Dunaden who carries 120 pounds in the Cup, eight pounds less than Americain. He also meets the Alain de Royer Dupre-trained stayer three pounds better at the weights than in August's Prix Kergorlay at Deauville, when he beat Americain home after enduring a tougher run in transit.