DUNDALK WILL host a proven top-flight star on Friday night when the Grade One-winner Gitano Hernando makes his long-awaited comeback in the Group Three Diamond Stakes.
The Marco Botti-trained four-year-old hasn’t been seen since failing to justify favouritism in last March’s Dubai World Cup and suffered a splint problem during the summer.
However, last October Gitano Hernando provided Kieren Fallon with his first top-class triumph after returning from suspension when landing the Grade One Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita, where among others he had the Kentucky Derby-winner Mine That Bird behind him.
“The plan is to run in Dundalk. We are aiming him at the Champion Stakes two weeks later but he looks fit enough and I am very happy with him,” Italian-born Botti said yesterday. “Kieren is to ride in Newmarket on Friday but he should be able to ride him. We just have to organise things.
“He had a splint problem but he is good again now and while he does improve for a run he looks quite fit at the minute. We know he handles the all-weather very well. The Breeders’ Cup is unlikely for this year and the plan is the Champion,” he added.
The winner of the €60,000 Diamond Stakes gets automatic qualification into the Breeders’ Cup marathon at Churchill Downs in November and Muhannak completed the double two years ago.
A total of 14 entries remain in the race, including Ger Butler’s Dansant, while Aidan O’Brien has left in Beethoven, who finished fourth to Poet’s Voice in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
O’Brien won the Diamond with his top-class Mastercraftsman last year before he ran in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.
