Gitano Hernando: as short as 8-1 for the Dubai World Cup at Meydan
PICTURE: Getty ImagesGitano Hernando set for Winter Derby Trial
GITANO HERNANDO, as short as 8-1 third favourite for the world's richest race, reappears in the Lingfield Winter Derby Trial on Saturday in his build up to the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan next month.
He could face a maximum of 13 rivals in the 1m2f contest including Settigano, a winner on Irish Derby day at the Curragh last season, and Suits Me, beaten a neck by Re Barolo in the race last season.
Kieren Fallon, who rode Gitano Hernando to victory in the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita lastOctober has been booked to ride him again.
His trainer Marco Botti said on Monday: "The Lingfield race has been the plan for him for a while. He has strengthened from three to four, he looks well and is coming on nicely, but he needs the race to put him 100 per cent for the World Cup. I am looking forward to running him.
"We will see how he comes out of Saturday's race before deciding when to send him to Dubai, but I would say it will probably be in the third week in March. When he went to Santa Anita he arrived only a week before, he's a very good traveller, the journey out there didn't seem to bother him at all."
After winning his maiden at Wolverhampton in November 2008, Gitano Hernando, a son of Hernando, made a low-key start to his three-year-old career by winning a handicap at Doncaster off a mark of just 84.
After a narrow defeat by South Easter in Chester's Dee Stakes in May, he was given a break and then went on to break the track record when winning a conditions event at Wolverhampton, before going on to Grade 1 glory at Santa Anita.
Botti added: "The Dubai World Cup is his target, and we'll see how he runs there beforemaking any more plans."
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