Haciendo is bred to be smart. Its father, Lope De Vega, is one of the most successful sires in Europe right now, consistently producing horses that win at the highest level. Its mother's side carries the influence of Teofilo, another stallion with a strong record for passing on talent. Breeding is never a guarantee, but this is a horse that arrives with a decent set of genes and plenty of expectation attached.
The trainer is Karl Burke, operating out of Coverham in North Yorkshire — and his yard is in serious form. One hundred and forty-five winners already this season is a remarkable number. That is not a stable that sends horses out unprepared or fills up race cards just for the sake of it. When a Burke runner appears for the first time, it tends to be ready. Whether Haciendo lives up to the promise of its pedigree is a question only racing will answer, but it could hardly be arriving from a better place.