Premio Torre Arias, Sunday 25 March, La Zarzuela

The third day of the La Zarzuela spring season has as its main attraction the Premio Torre Arias (1,400 m, 3yo colts, 9,000 euros for the winner), traditional trial race for the Premio Cimera. Only six colts will run, and 4 of them ran in the Gran Criterium 2011 last autumn (not Matusalén, the winner, who has being running in Dubai and has just returned to Spain).

The participants are:

Albret (IRE, 2009) is a gray colt [Clodovil-Piccelina(Piccolo)], oned by Cuadra Quinto Real, trained by G. Arizcotrreta, ridden by V. Janacek.. He won the Criterium Internacional in the summer in San Sebastián, beating Celtic Rock

Makalali (IRE, 2009), is a bay colt [Kodiac-Hawateef(Mujtahid)], owned by Cuadra Martel Sánchez, trained by O. Anaya, ridden by I. López. He has won in Dos Hermanas and Mijas this winter.

Nuredyn (FR, 2009) is a bay colt [Dyhim Diamond-Nurenieva(Enrique)], owned by Cuadra Zurraquin, trained by M. Hernández, ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina. He was second to Matusalén in the Gran Criterium in his last start.

Nuredyn (Dyhim Diamond) with Oscar Ortiz de Urbina. Photo courtesy of turfarganda.blogspot.com

Celtic Rock (GB, 2009) is a ch. colt [Rock of Gibraltar-Luna Céltica(Celtic Swing)], owned by Cuadra Habit, trained by J. C. Fernández, ridden by J. L. Martínez. 2nd to Albret in the Criterium Internacional, 5th in the Gran Critérium

Plenipotenciario (IRE, 2009), is a bay colt [Caradak-Pliaurea(Poliglote)], owned by Cuadra Ussía-Hinojosa, traned by J. L. de Salas, ridden by J. Crocquevieille. He won in his debut, beating Saphirside and was third in the Gran Criterim, his second and last start to date

Saphirside (IRE, 2009), is a bay colt [Elusive City-Silirisa(Sillery)], owned by Cuadra Safsaf, trained by M. Delcher, ridden by J. Grosjean. 2nd to Plenipotenciario, won his next start and was 7th in the Gran Criterium

Saphirside (Elusive City) with J. Grosjean. Photo courtesy of turfarganda.blogspot.com

The winners of the Torre Arias in the last years were: Volcánico (2011), Bombadil (2010), As de Trébol (2009), Yepes (2008), Buxo (2007) and Bolas Nuevas (2006)


The rest of the meeting includes a 1,800 m race for maiden 3yo fillies, a 1,800 m race for maiden 3yo colts, a 2,200 m handicap split in two races and a 2,000 m race for 3yo, with 7 participantes, 4 of them already winners.