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Wellington back on track
While Alexis Badel has a couple of exciting rides at Sha Tin on Sunday, the highlight of the Frenchman’s week may have already come and gone at Friday morning’s trials.
Badel partnered the Richard Gibson-trained Wellington to a comfortable victory in a 1,050m hit-out on the all-weather track, the speedster’s first trial since suffering a niggle which kept him out of his intended return in the Group Two Premier Bowl last month.
“I just tried to keep the horse happy and give him a smooth run and he responded well,” Badel said after allowing Wellington to build into his work from a wide draw before assuming control in the straight.
After partnering Wellington to victory in April’s Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize, Badel is bullish about what the galloper can produce against a sprinting ranks that remains wide open should he reach December’s Hong Kong International Races in full fitness.
Gibson is hopeful Wellington will race for the first time since the Chairman’s Sprint Prize in the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) on November 21.
“It was a nice trial, we’re trying to prep him for this race in a couple of weeks,” the Englishman said. “It hasn’t been a smooth preparation but I think we’re making progress. I have a huge team of people working behind me and I’m grateful for their dedication and hopefully we can get him across the line.”
