Gran Premio Nacional this Sunday

The GP Nacional is the main race of the season for Spanish breds, a 2,200 m race for 3 y/o. This race was won by Plantagenet last year.

Partants (almost definitive) are:

Abdel (SPA, 2008), a bay colt. [Dyhim Diamond-Leonor de Guzmán(Glauco)], owned and trained by J.M. Osorio, Duque de Alburquerque, will be ridden by J. Crocquevieille. Three starts with two wins, the last one beating Indiano, recent winner of the Velayos. Here is the video

Abdel beating Indiano in April. Photo courtesy of turfarganda.blogspot.com

Aljarafe(FR, 2008), a bay colt [Russian Blue-Noche] trained by G. Arizcorreta, will be ridden by J. L. Borrego. He has two starts with one third and one win. Owned by Cuadra Whylar. Aljarafe is half brother to Sam Winner, Gr. 1 placed over hurdles in the UK. This is his win: video

Betanzos(SPA, 2008), a chestnut colt, [Kashwan-Bridge Pool ], owned by Cuadra Llas, trained by J.A. López Valverde , will be ridden by M. Secci

Diamant du Soleil (FR, 2008) a chestnut colt, [Dyhim Diamond-Solina], owned by Cuadra Cielo de Madrid, will be ridden by M. Gomes and is trained by O. Rodríguez. Five starts, four placings

Don Hernando Hab(SPA, 2008), a chestnut colt, [Delfos-Cuddles], owned by
Gonzalo Hernando-Aboin, he is trained by A. Carrasco and will be ridden by Borja Fayos. He has 7 starts with 2 wins and 2 placings

Eltso (SPA, 2008), a chestnut colt, [Dyhim Diamond-Katherine], owned by Cuadra San Cristóbal, trained by J. López, will be ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina. Won his only start, in 1,600 m: Premio Cría Nacional

Eltso (jockey in red) in a final charge to beat Aljarafe (jockey in black), also partant this Sunday, last March.Photo courtesy of turfarganda.blogspot.com


Festeiro(SPA, 2008), a chestnut colt [Fol Parade-New Vert(Vert Amande)] won the Premio Cimera (1,000 guineas) and is half brother to Newango, winner of this GP Nacional in 2007. He is owned by Cuadra El Negredo and trained by M. Delcher (Senior) and Jorge Horcajada (who rode hime in the Cimera) will be his jockey.

Happy Few(GB, 2008), a bay colt, [Ballingarry-Ventolera] owned by Cuadra Odisea, is trained by I. Gómez and will be ridden by A. Gómez. He has three starts, winning the last two, including the Premio Nouvel An


Kurdo (SPA, 2008), a bay colt, [Baptize-La Sayida], owned by Cuadra LAC Internacional, trained by G. Arizcorreta, will be ridden by V. Janacek. He has three starts, with two placings.

Mil Azul(SPA, 2008) a bay colt [Russian Blue-Cuittled], owned by Yeguada Urdiñ-Oriya, will be ridden by F. Lynch and is trained by J. L. de Salas. Six starts, three wins, three placings.

Prince Trial(SPA, 2008) bay colt, [Federal Trial-Vagabunda] trained by J. C. Fernández, will be ridden by F. Jiménez. Owned by Cuadra Zalduendo. Has two starts, winning the last one on 2,100 m.

Ayanz wins the Handicap Opcional, Cabo Cañaveral wins the Fernán Núñez

Ayanz (GB, 2008) [Tiger Hill-Got to Go((Shareef Dancer)], ridden by Jorge Horcajada for trainer M. Delcher S and Cuadra Quinto Real, won the Handicap Opcional by eight lengths, carrying 53 kg. Betanzos (SPA) [Kahswan-Bridge Pool(First Trump)] (50 kg) was second and Festeiro [Fol Parade-New Vert(Vert Amande)] (60 kg) was third. This is the second win in three starts for Ayanz. Mil Azul, one of the favourites, didn't run.

Video: Handicap Opcional

Ayanz going to the starting gates. Photo courtesy of cortacabeza.wordpress.com

The Premio Fernán Núñez, a 2,200 m handicap for 4 y/o+ was won by the top weight, Cabo Cañaveral (FR, 2005)[Sendawar-Napeta(Woodman)], owned by Salvador Márquez, trained by J. A. Rodríguez and ridden by Vaclav Janacek, beating Duke (GER), Midgard (IRE) and Vivement Dimanche (GB). Inkhayan (SPA) was sacrified because of an injury sustained in this race.

Here is the race: Premio Fernán Núñez

Cabo Cañaveral, a 6 y/o horse, has now 30 starts with 8 wins and 79,200 euros in earnings. He is half-brother to Dink (FR), also owned by Salvador Márquez

There were also two interesting races for unraced 3 y/o. In the first one, for colts, the winner was Safsaf's Nova Cat (FR) [Hurricane Cat-Miss Fine(Kaldoun)] a grey colt trained by Yan Durepaire and ridden by Borja Fayos. Libertino (FR, 2008) [Daliapour-My Lucky Day(Darshaan)] owned by Cuadra Seta de Cubilla and trained by G. Arizcorreta was second and Francesco Cara (FR) [Della Francesca-Magic Cara(Akarad)] was third.

Tafadhali (SPA, 2008) [Dyhim Diamond-Laida(Slip Anchor)], a chestnut filly, ridden by F. Jiménez for trainer J. López and Cuadra Lajorquin, won the equivalent race for fillies (1,600 m, unraced fillies). Tafadhali was one of the four daughters of Dihym Diamond that made their debut in this race.