GITANO Hernando provided the highlight to what has been a successful year for all at Green Ridge Stables.
Trainer Marco Botti has sent out well over 30 winners from his Newmarket base including a first triumph at Grade 1 level.
Gitano Hernando gave Botti a top-flight victory on an International stage when the son of Hernando took the Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita in October.
Team Valor's colt had previously romped home in a conditions event at Wolverhampton and been an unlucky runner-up in the Group 3 Dee Stakes at Chester.
The Dubai World Cup in March is now Gitano Hernando's main target with the Meydan track and its surface set to suit.
Botti said:"It has been a really positive year. Gitano Hernando was obviously the highlight as getting a first Grade 1 winner was a real breakthrough.
"We have had a few less winners than last year but we still have a few more to run on the all-weather so hopefully we can make it up."
Among other highlights have been Botti's four Listed winners. Both Ceremonial Jade and Re Barolo took stakes events on the all-weather last spring and Botti is hoping that the pair can hit those sorts of heights again this year.
Fiulin was another to flourish under Botti's care. The son of Galileo took the Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham by six lengths before running creditably in top company all season.
He was among the top lots sold at the Tattersalls Horses in Training sale, being knocked down to jumps trainer Evan Williams for 280,000 guineas.
Electric Feel provided the team with a thrill when she took the Listed Radley Stakes at Newbury.
The daughter of Firebreak beat a number of highly regarded juveniles that day and has already proved herself to be a consistent stakes performer.
Her trainer said: "Electric Feel has done very well this year. It was great to see her win at Newbury and we'll get her ready early for a Guineas trial next year spring. She goes on any ground and should stay a mile well."
Princess Taylor was another to contribute to this year's prize money in a notable way.
She notched up nearly £40,000 towards the final total for the season and was placed no less than three stakes races.
Botti said of the daughter of Singspiel: She got some 'black type' but was unlucky not to win one. She was very consistent and kept her form well all year."
Botti is positive about his team for 2010 and added: "We have some nice more backward two-year-olds to look forward to, especially Grande Saggio and Aldovrandi who ran with a lot of promise on their debuts this month.
"Carioca is a filly by Rakti who we really like. She had ran well twice this year before having a small setback. Hopefully she can win her maiden before a step up in grade. She has shown us plenty at home so we hope she may be a stakes performer."
Time will tell, but for the remaining weeks of the year, the Botti team can reflect on a job well done in 2009.
by Jackie Jarvis
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