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Italian Trainer Pleased with Gitano Hernando’s Form

DUBAI — Marco Botti is all out to beat some of his former bosses as the Italian trainer is in with a real chance to make an impression at the world’s richest race on Saturday.

“Yes, I came here to win the Dubai World Cup from two of my previous bosses, Saeed bin Suroor and Henry Cecil,” Botti told Khaleej Times at the Breakfast with Stars on Thursday.

“My colt Gitano Hernando is in his best form and hopefully he will conquer the impossible,” he said.

Botti will saddle 1/7 shot Gitano Hernando to battle it out against the older and more experienced horses in the $10m Dubai World Cup Gr-1 at the iconic new Meydan Racecourse on Saturday.

“He settled well and training satisfactorily. I know there’s nothing easy in racing, but impossible is nothing,” he added.

Gitano Hernando was lightly raced on the both shores of the Atlantic and showed the best of him all the way.

“He’s a fast improving horse,” the Italian said.

“He’s grown big and mentally mature,” the trainer added.

Ironically, the four-year-old Hernando’s colt was well beaten by one of his today’s opponents on debut at the age of two years.

“He disappointed in a Division Two Maiden Stakes race at Nottingham when finished well behind Mastery over 10 furlong turf contest.

“Thereafter, we took him to the European Breeders’ Fund Maiden Stakes in Briton to race on a soft ground and he finished a close second to Headline Act.

“This was the first sign of progress from which he picked up and broke the maiden on the All-Weather surface of Wolverhampton before he won a handicap race in Doncaster when he was three years old.

“In the same year, he was beaten by a head in a Group-3 challenge, the first big race of his career, but he bounced back and won a Condition race when we took him back to the Wolverhampton All-Weather track.

“Last year, he was promoted Gr-1 level and beat Colonel John and Richard’s Kid in the Goodwood Stakes Pro-Ride at the Santa Anita Racecourse across the Atlantic.

“This was one of the encouraging elements that made us raise the ceiling of our ambitions and bring him to race here,” he said.

Gitano Hernando emerged an easy winner in a Listed race at Lingfield All-Weather track before being shipped to the Middle East.

Born to a racing family in Italy, the ex-jockey joined the yard of trainer Luca Cumani who introduced him to the British racing community.

“I have also worked with the Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor, Henry Cecil against whom I’m racing on Saturday.

“I think it’s going to be very interesting. Let’s wait and we will find out,” he concluded.

hisham@khaleejtimes.com