Gitano Hernando ships early to prepare for World Cup

Gitano Hernando (pink silks), shown winning the 2009 Goodwood, will take another stab at the Dubai World Cup in March (Benoit Photos) Grade 1 winner GITANO HERNANDO (GB) (Hernando [Fr]), who was favored last March for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), has arrived in Dubai from England to be prepared for the 2011 renewal of the 10-furlong fixture, which will be raced for a second time at Meydan race course in Dubai. In related news, Hong Kong-based jockey Weichong Marwing has been signed to pilot the Team Valor International and Gary Barber-owned chestnut in the three races scheduled for Gitano Hernando in Dubai. “We wanted a top-class international rider that we had faith in and with whom we had enjoyed some good fortune in the past,” Team Valor CEO Barry Irwin said. “Weichong has always been a favorite of the stable and he has enjoyed considerable success for us in Hong Kong, Dubai and South Africa. When we put Weichong up, we do so with a feeling of confidence.” Newmarket-based trainer Marco Botti has selected three races for Gitano Hernando: the February 3 Maktoum Challenge (UAE-G3) going 9 1/2 furlongs, the March 3 Maktoum Challenge (UAE-G2) going 10 furlongs, and the March 26 World Cup.

Botti sent the rising five-year-old on the first available shipment from the
British Isles. This is a departure from the colt’s schedule in advance of the
2010 World Cup, when Botti kept Gitano Hernando in England to ready him for the
world’s richest race. Gitano Hernando wound up a close sixth, missing by about 2
1/4 lengths.

This year, Botti trained the English-bred colt at home, prepared him for the
World Cup with a record-breaking performance in the Winter Derby Trial S. on
Lingfield’s all-weather track and sent him to Dubai just in advance of the race
in the desert.

“We had experienced some difficulties with the air pollution the year before
when construction of the new track became a problem for one of our horses that
developed a respiratory problem, which is why we kept Gitano Hernando in
England,” Irwin said. “Well, we zigged when we should have zagged, because it
was evident by the performances that the horses trained and raced in Dubai had
an edge over the invaders. So next year we will train and race in Dubai during
the entire Carnival.”

Hero of the Goodwood S. (G1) at Santa Anita in 2009, Gitano Hernando
concluded his 2010 campaign with a victory in the Diamond S. (Ire-G3) and a
fourth in the Champion S. (Eng-G1) at Newmarket.