The Alchemy’s beautifully bred young stallion Gitano Hernando opened his winner’s account at Flamingo Park on Monday when the Tienie Prinsloo trained Los Ninos won a 1200m Maiden Juvenile Plate in comfortable fashion.
Gitano Hernando – in race action.
Los Ninos, formerly based with Carl Burger down in the Western Cape, showed an appreciation for the extra 200m when staying on well from his wide draw at his fifth start in the Northern Cape.
He races in the familiar dayglo yellow and purple of George-based owner Braam van Huyssteen and had previously been placed at two of his starts
The R70 000 BSA 2015 Val De Vie Yearling Sale graduate was signed for by the Sport City Trust.
The colt was bred by S & C le Roux (Goudini Stud) and is out of the solid Becker mare, Autograf, who won four races from 1200m to 1400m.
Gitano Hernando also has the promising Maine Chance Farms bred Villanelle, who is trained by Grant Paddock. She has run four times for three seconds and a placing in the Listed East Cape Nursery behind Saturday’s impressive unbeaten Listed Perfect Promise Sprint winner, The Merry Widow.
She must win soon.
A top class and durable racehorse, Gitano Hernando bears striking similarities to former champion sire Silvano, one of the best stallions to stand in South Africa over the past two decades.
Both Gitano Hernando and Silvano were bred by Dr Andreas Jacobs and both hail from the same Niniski male line.
Both were outstanding and tough racehorses, who raced in no fewer than six different countries, with both Gitano Hernando and Silvano landing the prestigious Gr1 Singapore Airlines International Cup.
Gitano Hernando’s greatest achievement was probably winning the Gr1 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita at the age of 3.
Silvano and Gitano Hernando are thus both US Grade One winners.
Gitano Hernando (Hernando – Gino’s Spirit) – what an athlete
Gitano Hernando, who amassed over $2 million during his racing career, won four pattern races during his career, with his principal victories including the Gr1 Singapore Cup and Gr1 Goodwood Stakes. He also won the Gr3 Diamond Stakes and Listed Winter Derby Trial, and was also placed in the Gr2 Maktoum Challenge and Gr3 Dee Stakes.
Gitano Hernando was also extremely versatile, winning G1 races on both turf and all weather.
He is a son of French Derby winner Hernando, a hugely successful stallion whose other notable runners including major European classic winners Holding Court, Look Here and Sulamani.
Gitano Hernando stalks Met winner River Jetez in Dubai
Out of a mare who five stakes races during her career (Gino’s Spirits’ major win came in the G3 Noble Damsel Hcp where she defeated Barbaro’s dam La Ville Rouge), Gitano Hernando is from a magnificent female line.
His family is noted for producing outstanding juveniles, with Gitano’s relatives including such outstanding young racers as Admire Cozzene, and Toormore, to name but a few.
Gitano Hernando’s third dam is 1000 Guineas Mrs Mcardy, and his sixth dam is champion Star Of India.
He stands at The Alchemy for a fee of R15 000.
