Handicap Opcional and Premio Fernán Núñez this Sunday in Madrid

The first meeting of the Spring season in Madrid features as the main of the six races the traditional Handicap Opcional (named this year "Premio Día Internacional de la Mujer - Handicap Opcional). It is a 1,600 m race reserved for winners or two-times placed 3 y/o.
The joint top-weight partants are Festeiro (SPA) [Fol Parade-New Vert(Vert Amande)], a chestnut colt owned by Cuadra El Negredo, trained by M. Delcher and Mil Azul (SPA) [Russian Blue-Cuittled(Charismatic)] a bay colt owned by Yeguada Urdiñ-Oriya and trained by J. L Salas.

Mil Azul was second to Clunia in the Premio Martorell and then won the Criterium Nacional (main race for 2 y/o Spanish breds in the summer season) but then he was a disappointing 5th in the Copa de Criadores. This is the Criterium Nacional: Premio El País-Criterium Nacional in San Sebastián, last summer.

Mil Azul in Madrid. Photo courtesy of cortacabeza.wordpress.org

The Premio Fernán Núñez is also a traditional race, a 2,200 m Handicap race for 4 y/o+. The interesting field includes, among others Cabo Cañaveral (FR) [Sendawar-Napeta(Woodman)] owned by Salvador Márquez, Inkhayan (SPA) [Sulamani-Cuddles], owned by Cuadra Santa Bárbara, third in the Premio Villamejor (Spanish St. Leger), Duke (GER) [Second Set-Deborah], winner this winter, Orgi (SPA, 2007)
[Dyhim Diamond-Attrape], Indian Lou (SPA, 2007) [Indian Haven-Marylou Whitney]