Richard Gibson’s Winfield is one worth following

It would be hard to nominate a bigger flashing light horse so far this season than Richard Gibson-trained Winfield when he finished just behind the placings on Sunday at Sha Tin.

He appeared once in Australia as Most Wanted, performing the difficult feat of a debut win at Flemington in August, 2015, and the third horse won the Group One at Caulfield on Saturday, Bon Aurum, so they were by no means ordinary behind him.

But a suspected stress fracture to his left front leg in December has held him back since his arrival at Sha Tin and Gibson was only able to get him to the races once, towards the end of last season.

He was slowly away over 1,200m at Sha Tin, finished fifth to Love Shock, but was very much in need of it and he was again when he turned up on Sunday.

Once again slow to jump, Winfield spent most of the race towards the rear then had very much a chequered passage under Douglas Whyte in the straight from the 400m to the 200m.

He found the line well when he did have room and, given that he was beaten only a length, may have been right in the fight. However, it’s also fair to say he peaked before reaching the line and last 30m wasn’t the best of his finish but we’ll put that down to fitness.

Gibson’s horses invariably make very significant improvement for one run and it’s all upwards from here for the four-year-old, who has the potential to be a Classic Mile contender if Gibson can keep him in one piece and draw from him the same kind of talent he displayed in Australia.

 

Source: http://racing.scmp.com/freeservice/news/news20160927b.asp