Vermaak Equine has announced the acquisition of unbeaten three-year-old Hand In Hand (ARG) to complement its recent purchase of dual Group 1 winner Colorado Del Monte (ARG). The pair will form the foundation of De Kock Racing’s Dubai string, set to relaunch for the 2027 Dubai International Racing Carnival.
Hand In Hand was bred by the renowned Haras Santa Inésin Buenos Aires and acquired for Hollywood Racing which, alongside Laurence Wernars, have given De Kock Racing their start-up support for re-entry onto the world stage with their ‘Global Stable’.
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.
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.
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.”