Trainer Richard Gibson predicts that everyone will see a better Akeed Mofeed this season, but warned that it might not be on Tuesday in the National Day Cup, reports the Racing Post in HK. Gibson's two Group One-winning four-year-olds, Akeed Mofeed and Gold-Fun, make their return for the season in the traditional launching pad for many of the top gallopers on their way to December's Longines Hong Kong International Races.
But, while Derby winner Akeed Mofeed has more of an aura to him, Gibson says Classic Mile hero and Derby third Gold-Fun might be the better prospect at this stage.
"Gold-Fun has prepped well. I'm very pleased with his condition and health, and his work was very impressive last week," the trainer said. "Being a gelding, and the fact that he raced until a week later than Akeed Mofeed last season - yes, he's probably a bit sharper than him at the moment. But it's great to see them both back and racing again, five months is a long lay-off."
And Gibson pointed out that five months without racing is a significant disadvantage for a stallion like Akeed Mofeed, even if the summer break has been a positive for him in other ways.
"He has grown during the break and I think he has come back an improved horse on the one we saw last season, but a long lay-off like that for a colt? He's a big strong bull and definitely going to be rusty and will be better for this run," Gibson said.
After Akeed Mofeed's last-start fifth in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in late April, Gibson had wondered aloud if he might have been better to run him in the shorter Champions Mile a week later, where Gold-Fun ran fifth.
And that wasn't the first time Gibson (pictured) had hinted that the four-year-old, although a Derby winner at 2,000m, might be a better miler, and his campaign in the coming weeks will help the trainer decide.
"Our plans are undecided yet. He could be aimed at the Mile or the Cup on international day," Gibson said. "But these prep races are going to tell us which direction we should be going with him."