by Myra Lewyn  
  
Unable to recapture his winning form since posting a front-running win in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) earlier this year, Gladiatorus was back to his best on Sunday in Italy with a convincing victory in the Premio Vittorio di Capua (Ity-G1) at San Siro Racecourse.
  
Well beaten in three Group 1 starts in England and France since his dominant 3¼-length triumph in the Dubai Duty Free on March 28 at Nad al Sheba Racecourse, Gladiatorus drubbed ten opponents on Sunday after seizing command soon after the start. He rolled across the finish line 4½ lengths clear of German-based Italian stakes winner Win For Sure.
 
The Kentucky-bred Silic (Fr) colt covered 1,600 meters (7.95 furlongs) under Ahmed Atjebi in 1:38 on turf rated as good and put to rest any doubts about his ability at racing’s highest level.
  
"Gladiatorus won really well, with plenty in hand. It is pleasing to see him back to his best,” Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said.

"He did it quite easily and was given a very nice ride from the front—gradually increasing the pace.”

Italian stakes-placed winner Rockhorse finished third, a head behind Win for Sure.

After the Dubai Duty Free, in which he raced for Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed al Maktoum, a son of Godolphin principal Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Gladiatorus was acquired by Godolphin and finished sixth in the Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-G1) in June at Royal Ascot, eighth in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (Fr-G1) in August at Deauville, and fourth in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-G1) on September 6 in his previous start.

Crisford said that the colt, who is out of the Kris mare Gmaasha (Ire), might start again this season but nothing definite has been decided.

A multiple stakes winner in Italy as a two-year-old in 2007, Gladiatorus has won ten of 16 career starts, including the Commerical Bank of Dubai Al Fahidi Fort (UAE-G2) in his start prior to the Dubai Duty Free.

Also on the card, Hearts of Fire scored his third straight victory and provided former 11-time champion jockey Pat Eddery with his first Group 1 win as a trainer in the Gran Criterium (Ity-G1).

Winner of back-to-back stakes in France and Germany in August and September, the two-year-old colt by freshman sire Firebreak handled the class leap with a neck victory over English stakes winner Vale of York, who entered off a third-place finish in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Eng-G2) on September 26 at Ascot.

Hearts of Fire, who is out of the winning Mind Games mare Alexander Ballet, completed 1,600 meters in 1:38.90 for his fourth tally in eight career starts for owner Pat Eddery Racing. His victory also provided Firebreak, who is based at Bearstone Stud in Shropshire, with his first Group 1 winner.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor