Gitano swerves Classic raid

Marco Botti’s Gitano Hernando will not run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The three-year-old colt sprang to prominence for the Santa Anita showpiece earlier this month after his shock victory in the Grade One Goodwood Stakes.

Connections have now opted to bypass the Classic, however, in preference towards a tilt at next year’s Dubai World Cup.

Barry Irwin, representative for Gitano Hernando’s co-owners, Team Valor, said: “The colt just ran too hard last time and we don’t feel comfortable bringing him back in a month.

“We feel that he is a prime candidate for the World Cup in Dubai next spring and that the risk to the colt by running him back at such a high level next time is too great.”

Aron Wellman, racing manager for Team Valor, told Daily Racing Form: “There’s nothing problematic. We think he could be a very serious racehorse next year.

“We don’t want to compromise his chances next year by forcing him into the Breeders’ Cup Classic this year.”