HAND IN HAND is a colt by Il Campione (CHI), out of the Medaglia D’Oro (USA) mare Handprint (USA). Purchased for Hollywood Racing by Vermaak Equine in Argentina, she was bred by Haras Santa Inés.
Name: HAND IN HAND
Sex: Bay Colt
Sire: Il Campione (CHI)
Dam: Handprint (USA)
Damsire: Medaglia D’Oro (USA)
DOB: 19 August 2023
Breeder: Haras Santa Inés in Buenos Aires
Trainer: Mike de Kock
Previous Trainer: Roberto Pellagatta
Record: 2-2-0
Black Type: YES
1st – Group 3 Clásico Coronel Miguel F. Martínez over 1800m
UPDATES – Hand In Hand
September 28th, 2026
PURCHASE – HAND IN HAND (ARG) has been purchased by Vermaak Equine for Hollywood Racing. This colt was bred by the renowned Haras Santa Inés in Buenos Aires
Hand In Hand, like Colorado Del Monte, has already marked himself as an exceptional talent. He is two from two on the dirt and regarded as a ‘nailed-on’ prospect for Dubai’s prestigious dirt features, including the Group 2 $US1-million UAE Derby over and the Listed $US215,000 Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes, both staged over 1900m at Meydan Racecourse.
As a two-year-old, Hand in Hand won his 1600m debut in May 2026 at the Hipódromo de Palermo by 12 lengths, displaying a beautiful action with a good cruising speed. Race Replay.
Rested through winter, he re-appeared on 11 September 2026 in the Group 3 Clásico Coronel Miguel F. Martínez over 1800m and slammed his rivals by 2.50-lengths after he was cramped at the start, dropped to the rear and then forced to circle the field on the turn. Race Replay.
Argentina’s Turf Diario reported: “Despite wasting energy racing wide, once he hit the home straight, Hand In Hand unleashed a powerful rally. He took the lead and drew clear to win – remarkably, without his jockey ever having to use the whip.”
Hand In Hand is a dark bay son of Il Campione (Scat Daddy – CHI), a triple Group 1 winner and former Horse of the Year in Chile before being sold to continue his career as a stallion. He was Stallion Of The Year in Argentina in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and has so far sired 13 Group 1 winners.
Hand In Hand’s dam, Handprint, is by Medaglia D’Oro, who finished second in the 2004 Dubai World Cup and went on to become an elite stallion, with 27 Group 1 winners worldwide. Signigicantly, Medaglia d’Oro is also a top-tier broodmare sire with 115 stakes winners to 2024.
Justin Vermaak said: “We have good options with Hand In Hand and Colorado Del Monte. We hope to start both off in races on sand at Meydan on New Year’s Day so they can find their feet, and thereafter we can place them – one can go to Saudi Arabia on Saudi Cup Day in February and the other can stay in Dubai.”
“Colorado Del Monte may go for the Group 2 $US1.5-million Saudi Derby which is staged over a mile on 7 February, 2027. The dirt track at King Abdulaziz Racecourse will suit him because it is a bit more ‘user-friendly’ in that he can come from off the pace. Perhaps he and Hand In Hand will meet in the UAE Derby on Dubai World Cup night.”
Mike de Kock shared Vermaak’s enthusiasm and commented: “Hand in Hand is a very impressive horse. I saw him as a two-year-old and we’ve kept an eye on him since. He’s got everything you want in a racehorse, reminds me a bit of Asiatic Boy. It will be interesting to see how he stacks up against the Nothern Hemisphere three-year-olds in Dubai.
“In Hand in Hand and Colorado Del Monte we have two exciting prospects and a good start to reviving the Dubai racing experience.”start to reviving the Dubai racing experience.”
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