FRENCH import Green Sweet has presented his rookie trainer Jean Dubois with one of his biggest moments in racing by storming home to win the listed $180,000 Albury Gold Cup on Friday.
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In only his second start on Australian soil, Green Sweet relegated $3.30 favourite Cool Chap to his second successive placing in a major provincial cup race in scoring by half a length.
The French connection was completed with jockey Johan Victoire, who only came to Australia from France to ride mid-way through last year, aboard the winner.
Emerging Albury stayer Overdue also ran the race of his career to date to finish third.
Green Sweet's only run in Australia to date was a second placing at Rosehill over 1900 a fortnight ago with the performance resonating with punters as the five-year-old started a $5.50 second favourite.
The winner stalked Cool Chap up the straight before surging to the front inside the final 200m.
Dubois is based at Mittagong, but uses the Goulburn track to train his small team of 10 horses.
"Today was very brave," Dubois said.
"He got out a bit too early and a hard job to save ground for as long as possible as he chased the other one.
"I didn't know how he would handle Australian racing.
"He had good form in France, but a long time ago.
"He arrived last year in October and has just taken time to get him going."
Victoire rides trackwork for Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse whose Gold Cup runner Bonfire and Survived set the pace before both began to compound approaching the home turn.
"The trainer did a very good job to get him fit and ready for today," he said.
"I always like to ride good horse.
"I just tried my best to find the line and I'm very happy with that.
"I had to give my horse the best chance.
"We wanted to follow (Cool Chap) because we know he is the best horse in the race.
"This is good for the sport and everybody."
The 28-year-old has also ridden in Hong Kong and Mauritius before trying his luck in Australian racing where he has ridden six winners from his last 50 starts.
Victoire has previously ridden in France's biggest race, the Prix de l'Arc de Trriomphe, but the Gold Cup was his only ride for the Albury meeting.
Dubois has no immediate plans for Green Sweet, who won a listed race in France at his fourth start.
Cool Chap's second placing denied Lee Freedman his third win in the race in which another Canberra Cup placegetter Coolchat Dancer failed to finish the race.
The six-year-old was pulled up in last 100 metres.
