International jockey Glyn Schofield won the first leg of what could be a Group 1 double this week when he guided Gitano Hernando to victory in the Singapore International Cup at Kranji on Sunday.

Schofield will pilot hot favourite Hay List in the Doomben 10,000 this Saturday.

Gitano Hernando (5h Hernando – Gino’s Spirits by Perugino) was always prominent and stayed on gamely to hold off South African mare River Jetez by a half a length at Kranji.  “It was always our intention to be positive,” Schofield said.  “I was travelling so sweetly turning for home that I let him go coming off the bend.  He kept it up right to the line.”

Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov purchased Gitano Hernando in a deal thought to be worth about US$4 million in March.  The gelding was unplaced in the Dubai World Cup and QEII Cup at Sha Tin but was back to his best in Singapore.

Gitano Hernando was originally raced by Team Valor to a Group 1 win in the 2009 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita and he also saluted in the G3 Diamond Stakes at Dundalk in October.  

Bred in Britain by Newsells Park Stud, Gitano Hernando was sold as a yearling in Deauville for US$53,964.  Team Valor’s Barry Irwin bought the chestnut following his maiden win at Wolverhampton in November 2008.

His sire Hernando was a G1 winner of the 1993 French Derby for owner Stavros Niarchos and is based at Lanwades Stud in Newmarket.  

The Singapore Cup winner’s dam Gino’s Spirits was a Listed winner in England before transferring Stateside to win black-type races at Belmont, Keeneland and Hialeah.

Second dam Rising Spirits (Cure the Blues) is a half-sister to evergreen sire Citidancer (Lomond) who is still on active service at Yarradale Stud in WA.