Unbeaten Gitano Hernando has eyes set on world's richest race
Botti's horse in fine nick as bookmakers quote 9-1 odds to win cup
Dubai:Gitano Hernando, unbeaten in four starts and trainer Marco Botti's big hope in the $10 million Dubai World Cup, has completed his last piece of work before leaving for his biggest test.
The son of Hernando won the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita last October, the first big win for Botti, and since then has been aimed at the world's richest race to be held at Meydan on March 27.
The four-year old worked over seven-and-a-half furlongs with Kieren Fallon on board and Botti said, "Everything went well this morning. Kieren was pleased and said he felt in good order.
"We didn't want to overdo it so he just did a sensible piece of work and now we're ready to go," said the New Market-based trainer.
"He hopefully will travel well just like he did when he went to Santa Anita," said Botti on his website.
Gitano Hernando stunned a classy field that included Richard's Kid, Mine That Bird, Chocolate Candy and Tres Borrachos as a three-year-old when winning the Grade 1 race at Santa Anita and has since won the Winter Derby Trial at Lingfield on February 27 this year as part of his preparation for the Dubai World Cup.
"Next week, we'll just keep him ticking over on the Tapeta and maybe give him a blow-out one or two days before the race," said Botti, who has also tasted success at Meydan in this year's Dubai International Racing Carnival.
Christophe Soumillon rode Soneva to a superb win in the Group 3 Cape Verde to give Botti another big triumph and confirm his growing reputation as a big-race trainer.
Gitano Hernando has been named at 9-1 by book-makers with the favoured trio of American raider Gio Ponti along with two other European hopefuls in Twice Over and Vision d'Etat all quoted at around 7-1 to win the Dubai World Cup and carry home the winner's purse of $6 million!
The others in the initial entry list for the Dubai World Cup include last year's runner-up Well Armed, Gloria de Campeao, Saeed Bin Surour's Mastery and Allybar, Mike de Kock's Lizard's Desire and Mr Brock, Brian Meehan's Crowded House, Mike Maker's Furthest Land, Japanese raider Red Desire and Todd Pletcher's Take the Points.
