Gun Pit, a leggy seven-year-old bay gelding, won close to $1.5 million in  prize money for his billionaire owner Cheng Chung Wah. 

The classy four-legged “gentleman”, who was housed in a 16-storey skyscraper with a 24-hour groom in attendance, sustained a career-ending injury at the start of this year.

He had won seven races in a row on Sha Tin’s all-weather track for trainer Caspar Fownes and had his ticket booked for a start in the US when a bone chip in his left front fetlock hastened retirement plans.

Such was the “beautiful” temperament of the horse, his indulgent owner contacted Barnawartha breeders Tony and Kellie Smeaton to ask if they would like to have him back home.

“In a heartbeat, we said yes,” Mr Smeaton said.

“It’s extremely hard from a country town to win any race let alone win among the best in the world.”

Chung Wah covered the cost of the $40,000 flight home and “platinum” truck transport from Melbourne to paddock doorstep.

And with his old pal Freddy, a laid-back welsh pony, on hand to give him a warm welcome, Gun Pit knew he was home, according to Mr Smeaton.

From a young age frolicking in the paddocks with the other yearlings, Mr Smeaton realised the son of Dubawi was the real deal.

He was sold to a New Zealand “pinhooker” and at his first trial proceeded to dump his jockey and gallop another full lap before being caught.

“He still won the trial by eight lengths,” Mr Smeaton said proudly.

“They knew then he was really good but he didn't have a name so the owners thought, ‘Well he looks like Brad Pitt and goes like a gun’ – hence Gun Pit.”

And while he might have started life a “little highly strung”, Mr Smeaton reckons the years in between have made Gun Pit more worldy wise.

“He’s raced in Dubai, Japan, and China – in fact he’s more well-travelled than I am,” he laughed.

- JODIE O’SULLIVAN