Collective Story

Few, if any, trainers in Hong Kong are as ready to deflect praise and credit others as Richard Gibson. In the pulsating afterglow of big-race wins, the 53-year-old Englishman’s trademark move is to identify his staff, rather than basking alone in the glory.

Synonymous with a string of great horses throughout his career – Akeed Mofeed (事事為王), Doctor Dino (迪諾醫生), Gold-Fun (大運財) and Lady Of Chad (翠德郡主), to name a few – Gibson has managed the rise of his latest flagbearer, Wellington (福逸), to his coveted standing as Hong Kong’s premier sprinter.

In a sport crammed with uncertainty, Gibson’s unwavering commitment to his team has been evident following each of Wellington’s 11 victories, and never more so than during his Group 1 triumphs.

In October, when Hong Kong’s Champion Sprinter demolished a quality field in the G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) in almost course-record time, Gibson immediately unleashed a familiar process of thanking the relevant members of his team.

“A big shoutout to the team because it’s a long time from April to October in any horse’s career, and they’ve done a great job getting him ready,” said Gibson, while paying tribute to stable assistant Josephine ‘KK’ Kwok, who plays a pivotal role in Wellington’s welfare, as well as jockey Alexis Badel.

“Wellington is such a good athlete. He looks after himself well. I’ll be relying on his groom, who does such a good job with him, and his rider. I’ll be leaving all that in their expert hands.”

While Gibson helms the ship, his trust in delegation is revealing. As the architect responsible for the Hong Kong Derby-winning exploits of Akeed Mofeed and the globe-trotting feats of Doctor Dino, Gibson understands he is only as strong as the weakest stable link.

With LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) success outlined as a natural goal for Wellington, Gibson and his team have methodically honed the mercurial six-year-old’s pathway over the past three seasons, to the point where the speedster still appears to be improving, even as a triple Group 1 winner.

Reflecting on the G2 Premier Bowl Handicap romp under 135lb, Gibson said, “Maybe the most satisfying thing I saw was his flexibility in running. I can’t really remember if he won on pace like that in a long time. We needed to ride him like that because of the track.

“The moment I saw him jump I thought he was going to be tough to beat. He came out of the gates hungry and from that moment on, it was a comfortable watch. I always thought he would make it.

“The only thing that surprised me was the price (8/1). You’ve got the best horse in Hong Kong for two years over this trip and he’s paid HK$9.2, which was extraordinary. Obviously, we were the best horse in the race but could he carry the weight? To be really honest, I didn’t know but it had to be a good one to beat him today.

“He’s shown his class here now for two seasons and despite the big weight today, it’s a good sign for the rest of the season.”

It was a similar refrain after Wellington flayed the opposition in last season’s G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin.

“What a wonderful day that the Owners are here,” Gibson said at the time. “I’m so pleased they are here to share such a great horse. I’m just delighted that the Club made all the effort to make sure that the Owners were here today. They are here to appreciate equine brilliance because that’s what it is.

“The horse has got such mental strength. It’s rare for a sprinter to be so calm before a race. I think what makes him different is that he can turn on this power like a flick of a switch.

“He really is one of the top sprinters in the world. It’s difficult to win these big Group 1 races back to back. He’s done it and it’s a great achievement.”

Wherever Wellington’s talent ultimately takes him, the credits will be formally sheeted to Gibson. However, a quick glance beneath the bald statistics will reveal a trainer prepared to generously acknowledge others.