When one writes to trainer, one of the most successful horses & in the world, one doesn’t anticipate that one will receive an immediate response. Which is exactly what happened!
Although the interview itself was done on email, the warmth and the genuineness of the Sanos family came across every step of the way as we worked together to get all the pieces in place.
The best news for the trainer is the fact that he is now competing in the Pegasus as an American. The Venezuelan enjoyed success training in his home country before moving to the U.S. He is now based out of South Florida where Gunnevera is trained.
Antonio Sanos chats to Ten Furlongs about where he hopes the year will take him and his plans for the Dubai World Cup 2019:
Q: What are your plans for Gunnevera from now until the Dubai World Cup?
A: First we will focus on the Pegasus World Cup and making sure we have a very good performance in it. Then, focus on training the horse towards the Dubai World Cup as the next possible race for him. In the months of mid-February to March is when his serious training for a race will take place.
Q: When does the ship to Dubai? Is there a different training strategy for him this year?
A: The shipping to Dubai it’s usually handled by Meydan Race Course, we expect it to be about 10 days before the race. The training strategy will be the same one he has done in all of his years in the track. He has proved to like it and shown improvement every week.
Q: What kind of a horse is he?
A: He is a horse that comes by once in a lifetime! Just looking at all the success he has done in his career while taking into consideration the different obstacles he has faced, is simply admirable. He is a very beautiful, big, and strong horse, yet he is always being playful in the barn.
Q: Given the fact that you have raced at some of the biggest races in the world, what is on your bucket list to win?
A: Winning the Pegasus World Cup is definitely one of my biggest goals. Not just because of its prestige, but because is in the race track where I started my training career in the United States. Nevertheless, winning the Dubai World Cup would also be a dream come true.
Q: Who are your other stable stars?
A: My other stable stars at the moment are: “Santiamen,” which is a 4-year-old colt also by Dialed In, is definitely one of the horses from the barn with the biggest heart. In the youngsters' side, two promising ones are a 3-year-old filly named “Bella Ciao,” who’s proven herself in Stakes company. And a 3-year-old colt named “Greater Cairo,” which has been one of the fastest horses I have ever trained.
Q: When are you personally due to come to Dubai?
A: I’m personally due to arrive in Dubai the week the horse gets to the barn at Meydan.
Q: If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
A: If I could learn something, it would be to learn how to cook as amazing as my wife does!
Q: If you could spend a day in someone else’s shoes whose would they be?
A: If I could I would spend a day in my dad’s shoes. He is a very intelligent man, who has taught me all the virtues I know today. He is 90 years old, yet he is stronger than ever and watches all my races.
Published In Tenfurlongs Journey To The Dubai World Cup Vol - III
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Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretariatsworld.com