Gitano will be ready for World Cup Connections of Gitano Hernando believe their horse will be at the peak of fitness when he lines up for the Dubai World Cup at Meydan in three weeks' time. The five-year-old had his second prep run for the richest race on the planet when a strong-finishing third to Twice Over in the third round of the Al Maktoum Challenge over the course and distance on Thursday. "We were happy but I think the horse still isn't as fit as we'd hope he'd be," said Barry Irwin, co-founder of Team Valor International, who own the Marco Botti-trained entire with Gary Barber. "The first race he looked like he was really fat, this race he looked better but this race will bring him on and for the next one he should be ready. "There was a slow pace on Thursday and he was wide but he definitely finished with a rally. We were very happy and he's coming up to the race (World Cup) just like we'd hoped. "It's not going to be an easy race this year and the horse that scares me the most is Bold Silvano. "I thought Johnny Murtagh rode our horse very well. He was very strong and at the end he didn't really hammer him to death which is good and hopefully the horse will come on enough to do something in the big race. "Johnny wanted the horse to be a little closer so when he broke he pushed on him three or four times. But this horse is so much more laid back than he was last year and the year before that, so he didn't respond to what Johnny wanted him to do. He kind of took himself out of the race and when he was ready then he put in his run. "I think Johnny will learn something from the race and next time hopefully we will get a little better post position."
