by Myra Lewyn

Gestut Fahrhof’s international campaigner Quijano (Ger) unleashed a determined late rally and scored a convincing victory on Sunday in the Gran Premio di Milano (Ity-G1) at San Siro Racecourse in Milan.

The six-year-old Acatenango gelding snapped a five-race winless stretch dating to his neck victory in the Grosser Preis von Baden (Ger-G1) on September 2.

Trained by Peter Schiergen, Quijano has traveled extensively while competing against some of the world’s elite horses. The Grosser Pries von Baden and the Intikhab Dubai City of Gold (UAE-G3) were among five victories in nine starts Quijano recorded last season as he raced in Canada, Dubai, France, Germany, and Hong Kong. He was the runner-up to Doctor Dino (Fr) in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) at Sha Tin and finished third to Cloudy’s Knight in the Pattison Canadian International Stakes (Can-G1) at Woodbine.

With Andreas Starke at the reins on Sunday, Quijano was easily the most accomplished in the seven-horse field. He raced comfortably in midpack as Group 3 winner Gimmy sprinted to front and opened up a lead of more than ten lengths through a half-mile.

At the top of the straight, Quijano took aim of Gimmy, who held a six-length advantage, but waited until 300 meters out to unleash a resolute bid and reel in Gimmy. He shook free, repelled a bid from runner-up Voila Ici, and surged clear for a 1¼-length win in 2:34.70 for 2,400 meters (11.93 furlongs) on turf rated as heavy. 

Voila Ici finished three lengths in front of Gimmy, who held on for third.

German-bred Quijano, who is out of the Unfuwain mare Quila, made his fourth start this year in the Gran Premio di Milano. He finished fourth behind Sun Classique in the Nakheel Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) on March 29 and entered Sunday’s race off a fifth-place finish in the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1) on April 27 at Sha Tin.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor