The Melbourne Cup is coming to Hong Kong - at least the silverware is - with the winning owner of yesterday's French-trained winner Dunaden declaring post-race that he would keep his promise to the horse's former trainer, Richard Gibson.
Gibson moved quite a number of horses from his yard to that of cup-winning trainer Mikel Delzangles earlier this year as he wound up his Chantilly stables in preparation for his new career in Hong Kong.
Dunaden was one of the horses that Gibson himself took over from another stable.
He improved the horse considerably to raise him to Group-winning level and the Englishman has kept close tabs on Dunaden's subsequent career.
'They promised me, if they won, they would bring the cup over here so I could see it and hold it. I've just spoken to the owner and he told me the cup is on its way,' a delighted Gibson said yesterday after the last-gasp victory by Dunaden at Flemington.
It was the biggest win for Dunaden's owner, Qatari royal Sheikh Fahad al-Thani, who had offered to fly Gibson to Melbourne to be part of the day.