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Wellington makes winning return
The Classic Mile ambitions might have been abandoned but exciting galloper Wellington certainly gave trainer Richard Gibson a reason to smile after a winning return at Sha Tin on Saturday.
The talented four-year-old won his first three races in fine style before failing to fire as an odds-on hope in his fourth start and a host of issues meant he hadn’t run since that effort in April.
But the Englishman kept the faith and worked through those ailments – which included tendinitis – and that patience paid off in the Class Three Long Ke Handicap (1,000m).
The Classic Mile ambitions might have been abandoned but exciting galloper Wellington certainly gave trainer Richard Gibson a reason to smile after a winning return at Sha Tin on Saturday.
The talented four-year-old won his first three races in fine style before failing to fire as an odds-on hope in his fourth start and a host of issues meant he hadn’t run since that effort in April.
But the Englishman kept the faith and worked through those ailments – which included tendinitis – and that patience paid off in the Class Three Long Ke Handicap (1,000m).
Winning at the top of Class Three after a lengthy lay-off is never easy but the fact he did augurs well for the rest of his campaign.
“This horse has never really had an injury but was not 100 per cent right, so we just had to be patient,” Gibson said. “We know he’s a good horse but we just had to be patient. Today, I think he hit the front a bit soon and he got a bit tired, but that’s normal – he hadn’t raced in a while.
“He’s won well off a heavy weight, he’s going to be slimmer and trimmer next time out.
