A genuine Melbourne Cup chance has emerged from England via Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore in the shape of a horse trained by a South African and owned by the president of Chechnya.
Gitano Hernando is likely to be aimed at Australia’s greatest race after taking out the S$3m Group One Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m) on Sunday.
Trainer Herman Brown, who took third place in the 2009 Melbourne Cup with Mourilyan for the owner of Gitano Hernando, Ramzan Kadyrov, said the a trip to Australia was again high in his agenda.
“I’ve always wanted to have another go after we ran so well a couple of years ago,” Brown said.
“I’m sure he’ll run the distance, it will just depend on how he pulls up and how he travels home.”
Gitano Hernando was formerly trained in England by Italian Marco Botti, switching to the Dubai-based Brown earlier this year.
Melbourne Cup plans first arose at the instigation of Melbourne jockey Damien Oliver who rode the horse in Hong Kong at his previous run.
“Damien told me he thought he would be an ideal horse and tonight he’s shown he’s got the class.”
Gitano Hernando (14-1) beat River Jetez, who is trained by another South African, Mike de Kock, with Irian and Waikato dead-heating for third.
Earlier on Sunday, yet another South African trainer, the Singapore-based Patrick Shaw, won the S$1m KrisFlyer Sprint (1200m) with hot favourite Rocket Man.
AAP Turf
