Sano aims to write name in legend with Gunnevera

As the winningmost trainer in one of the most violent countries in the world, Antonio Sano has lived a life of extreme highs and lows. Back in Venezuela he was once held captive for 36 days by kidnappers and his family had to sell everything they owned to liberate him. But he could be set for the greatest high of his career in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

Less than eight years on from his harrowing kidnap ordeal, Sano now trains 54 horses from his base in southern Florida and at the weekend he sends out stable star Gunnevera in a bid to land America’s most famous race.

The hallmark of this year’s Kentucky Derby is that it lacks a clear favourite. You can get 6-1 or bigger on every runner and all of them have some sort of question to answer as they look to land the opening leg of the Triple Crown.