Brivio keen on Middle East trip with Grand Son Of Dark

Grand Son Of Dark could add an Italian flavour to the Bahrain International Trophy after proving himself to be a high-class colt across Europe this season.

Trained by Italian champion trainer Endo Botti alongside his wife Cristiana Brivio, the strapping son of Dark Angel is a Classic winner on home soil having claimed the Italian 2000 Guineas in May.

Only Andrew Balding’s aptly-named Venetian Prince denied the colt adding to his haul back at the San Siro in the 143rd Derby Italiano and while he underwhelmed against his elders in the Premio Gran Premio Di Milano, he enhanced his reputation when venturing outside of Italy to Deauville last month.

It was again British-trained opposition that proved a thorn in the Pisa-based team’s side as Grand Son Of Dark found just Charlie Appleby’s dual Guineas-placed Distant Storm too good when second in the Prix Daphnis.

However, it was a performance which delighted the power couple of Italian racing, with Brivio saying: “We knew going to Deauville the horse was well, but when we saw the final declarations we were worried as it looked a very tough race.

“The French people were telling me they had not seen as many good horses in that race for 25 years and we were thinking if he finished fifth that would be OK, but to finish second behind a very good horse who had finished close in Guineas, we were very happy.

“He’s a real champion and improves day by day and race-by-race. He has run well from a mile up to a mile and a half and in heavy ground and good ground.”

After that small taste of action abroad, Italy’s most powerful stable are now hoping to travel further afield with their star performer after one final outing for the year at home.

It is a trip to the Middle East and November’s Bahrain International Trophy – upgraded this season to Group One status – seen as the prime location to try to end the campaign on a high with connections dreaming of flying Il Tricolore on the global stage thanks to their ever-improving charge.

“It is very difficult to find races and there is none for just three-year-olds now for him in Europe so we think we will do a Group race in Milano on October 10,” continued Brivio.

“But our goal is to go to the Group One in Bahrain in November. We think that would be a good race for him and the owners have agreed to the programme.

“I’m sure he will be a better four-year-old as well as he is improving race by race and is a big horse. Hopefully we will see better things also next year. It’s a long time since we’ve had such a good horse in Italy.”