While Leon Corstens was in Adelaide on Saturday, he left the affairs at Flemington to his capable deputy, Gary Gibb.

Leon left without a care in the world, when Gibb is at the helm the ship is running on an even keel.

Gibb is no stranger to the winner’s circle, he never tires of it, and there he was leading another winner when Felidea saluted in the Spotless Handicap.

Felidea winning at Flemington

He goes about his business, and that of the boss, in a professional manner, they have a great understanding of each other.

Gibb was apprenticed to Ray Hutchins, at Epsom, at a time when it was the biggest racing centre outside of Flemington.

The stable was riding high back in 1973 when Gala Supreme won the Melbourne Cup, one of many Cup winners trained out of the old course that was sold up for housing, those that wanted to remain training had to relocate.

Gibb finally plucked up enough courage to ask the boss for his daughter, Heather’s hand in marriage, Ray could hardly refuse.

The young couple settled in Berrigan, Bert Honeychurch’s territory, to establish a training base close to the local racecourse.

As they expected it was never going to be easy, but fortunes changed when Brummel Who won a two year old race at Deniliquin, then going on to win the Black Opal Stakes at Canberra.

Gary Gibb