Hong Kong sprinter Gold-Fun will be given his chance in a Group One race in France.
A close runner-up to Twilight Son in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, Gold-Fun will run in the Prix de Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on August 7.
Having ruled out the July Cup at Newmarket, trainer Richard Gibson has his sights on the French sprint over 1300 metres.
“This horse always runs well fresh, so we were never going to run in the July Cup, but I know the French program well and it is a very unique distance running 1300 metres down a straight,” Gibson told the South China Morning Post.
“After finishing off so strongly over 1200 metres at Royal Ascot, I think that extra 100 metres will suit him.
“The feeling is that there aren’t many options in Hong Kong for him anymore. It’s a little sharp for him over 1200 metres at Sha Tin, but the variations in Europe are well suited for him.”
Gold-Fun, who has won Group One races in Hong Kong from 1200 to 1600 metres, finished 2-1/4 lengths fourth behind Australian champion sprinter Chautauqua in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin in May.
