Cielo Canarias won the GP Hispanidad

Cielo Canarias (IRE, 2008), a bay gelding [Exceed and Excel-Summer Dance(Saddler's Wells)], owned by Cuadra Grupo Bolaños, trained by E. León and ridden by J. L. Martínez won last Friday at the La Zarzuela racetrack the GP Hispanidad (1,600 m, 3yo+, weight for age, 24,000 euros for the winner), beating easily Weststow (Medicean) by four lengths, with Jakemate (Denver County) and Mil Azul (Russian Blue) close third and fourth.

This fourth consecutive win of Cielo Canarias means he has won two of the top miles of the year (Gobierno Vasco and GP Hispanidad), which makes him the best miler in Spain.

Cielo Canarias winning the GP Hispanidad 2012. Photo courtesy of www.gacetahipodromo.com

 Here is the video (including footage of the previous edition, won by Abdel): GP Hispanidad 2012

The favourite Ariete Arrollador didn't have a good travel and Silverside finished last in his reappearance after one year without racing.


Other winners of the Friday meeting were:

Labros (Dyhim Diamond) in the 1,400 m race for Spanish bred 2yos

Don Hernando Hab (Delfos) in the 1,800 m claiming race for amateur jockeys

Monte (Singspiel) in the 2,000 m race for maiden 3yo and

Teobaldo (Singspiel) in the 2,800 m  handicap

GP de la Hispanidad tomorrow at La Zarzuela

 This Friday, National holiday in Spain, is the running of the GP de la Hispanidad, one of the highlights of the autumn season and one of the six races under consideration for upgrading to Listed level next year. It is a 1,600 m race for 3yo+, with a purse of 24,000 euros for the winner.

These horses will run this year.

Ariete Arrollador (GB, 2007), bay colt [Kingsalsa-Proud Douna(Kaldoun)], owned by Cuadra Albero, trained by G. Arizkorreta, will be ridden by V. Janacek. Probably the favourite, he won the preparatory race for 4yo+. He was 2nd to Abdel last year

Cielo Canarias (IRE, 2008), bay gelding [Exceed and Excel-Summer Dance(Saddler's Wells)], owned by Cuadra Grupo Bolaños, trained by E. León, will be ridden by J. L. Martínez. He won his last three starts, including the Gobierno Vasco in San Sebastián (also considered for Listed level)

Dunnboinee (IRE, 2008), ch. colt. [King's Best-For Starters(In the Wings)], owned by Cuadra Martul, trained by A. Imaz, will be ridden by G. Madero. He has run mostly over 2,000 m

Jakemate (SPA, 2007), bay gelding [Denver County-Shiva(Policy Matter)], owned by Cuadra Cruceña, trained by J. López,, will be ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina.

Mil Azul (SPA, 2008), bay colt [Russian Blue-Cuittled(Charismatic)], owned by Yeguada Urdiñ-Oriya, trained by J. L. de Salas, will be ridden by J. L. Borrego

Silverside (USA, 2006), bay colt [Pleasantly Perfect-Lyrical Ghost(Silver Ghost)], owned by Cuadra Safsaf, trained by M. Delcher, will be ridden by J. Grosjean. This globetrotter won this race in 2009 and 2010. He was Classic winner of the Premio Cimera (Guineas) in 2009 and has run in France, Germany, Dubai, Norway, England and Spain.. He has the best rating of the race, but comes from almost a year without running.

Weststow (GB, 2008), ch. colt [Medicean-Summer Sunset(Grand Lodge)], owned by Cuadra Viguria, trained by J. M. Osorio, will be ridden by J. Crocquevieille.

Dakside (SPA, 2009), bay filly [Caradak-La Lola(Zafonic)], owned by Cuadra Safsaf, trained by F. Rodríguez, will be ridden by J. B. Eyquem

La Llanura (CAN, 2008), gray filly [El Prado-Herzblatt(Cozzene)], owned by Cuadra Tiziano, trained by M. Delcher S, will be ridden by J. Horcajada

Valiant Blue (IRE, 2009), bay colt [Moss Vale-Tiltili(Spectrum)], owned by Cuadra Agrado, trained by Teo Callejo, will be ridden by J. B. Hamel. Winner of the prep race for 3yo.



Last winners of the GP Hispanidad are: Abdel (2011), Silverside (2010 and 2009), Shumookh (2008), Solita (2007), Trip to the Moon (2006) and Young Tiger.(2005)


Other races of the card are a 1,400 m for Spanish bred 2yos, a 1,800 m claiming race for 3yo+  (including Bottega and Hispanidad winner Shumookh), a 2,000 m race for maiden 3yos and a 2,800 m handicap

Abdel won the Memorial Duque de Alburquerque

The 2nd running of the GP Memorial Duque de Alburquerque (2,100 m, 4yo+, 17,400 euros for the winner), was won by Abdel (FR, 2008), [Dyhim Diamond-Leonor de Guzmán(Glauco)],  the bay colt owned and trained by J. M. Osorio, the current Duque de Alburquerque. Abdel was ridden by J. E. Jarcovsky, who had him in the second position after the frontrunner Nelson Groom (Charming Groom) for most of the race. Abdel found himself boxed in the home stretch when Plantagenet attacked Nelson Groom and Jarcovsky had a difficult time finding the way out, although, once in the clear, Abdel showed a remarkable turn of foot to surpasse Nelson Groom by a length, with Arnuero (Sakhee) third and Plantagenet fourth.

This is the 6th win in 10 starts for Abdel, who has performed at the highest level in 1,400 m (Antonio Blasco), 1,600 GP Hispanidad), 2,400 m (Copa de Oro) and now 2,100 m.

Abdel (Dyhim Diamond) and Jarcovksy, winners of the GP Memorial Duque de Alburquerque. Photo courtesy of http://turfarganda.blogspot.com

Here is the video (including parts of the 2011 edition): GP Memorial Duque de Alburquerque 2011

In the rest of the meeting:
Teobaldo (Singspiel) won the 2,100 m race for maiden 3yo, with Biladi (Authorized) second.

Cañadio (Dyhim Diamond) won the first part of the 1,600 m split handicap, with Viva A Franca (Storm Cat) 2nd

In the 1,600 m race for amateur jockes, the winner was Cielo Canarias (Exceed adn Excel), with Muñeca Brava (Noverre) second.

In the 2,100 m race for maiden 3yo fillies, the winner was the half sister to Faramir (GP Ciudad de Madrid), Sportside (Refuse to Bend), with Azafata (Motivator) 2nd. Here is the video: Premio Loterías y Apuestas del Estado

And in the 2nd half of the split handicap,. Dyhim Diamond made a treble as a sire with Diamante Blanco

Dyhim Diamond sired a total of 5 winners out of 11 races in the weekend

Premio Antonio Blasco (1,400 m, 2yo+) Sunday 30th

The Premio Antonio Blasco is a 1,400 m race that represents the first important race for 2 yo+. It is named after the great owner-breeder Antonio Blasco Oller, one of the most important figures in racing in the twentieth century in Spain. He owned the Cuadra Rosales which means he was the owner of some of the best horses in the second half of the century, like Chacal, Teresa, Takala, My Mourne, Casualidad, Richal, Lorgot, Dual Sea, Barilone, Clamor and a very long etc.

He also had horses out of Spain, being the most prominent the Prix de L'Opera winner Dona Barod and Pharly, second to Blushing Groom in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains.

The last winners of the Premio Antonio Blasco have been: Peñalén (2010), Mariscal (2009), Lorgan (2008), Lessing (2007) and Prince d'Orange

The partans this year are:

Lince ch. c (GB, 2007) [Singspiel-Cuclone Connie(Dr. Devious)], owned by Cuadra Los Toneles, trained by F. Rodríguez, ridden by M. Borrego.

Abdel bay c (FR, 2008) [Dyhim Diamond-Leonor de Guzmán(Glauco)], owned and trained by J. M. Osorio, Duque de Alburquerque, will be ridden by J. Crocquevieille. He won the GP Hispanidad 2011, and was second in the Copa de Oro de San Sebastián.

Cielo Canarias, bay geld. (IRE, 2008) [Exceed and Excel-Summer Dance(Sadler's Wells)] owned by Cuadra Grupo Bolaños, trained by E. León, will be ridden by J. L. Martínez

Golfo Pérsico, bay colt (IRE, 2008) [Diamond Green-Bajan Belle(Efisio)], owned by Toneles-Pazooki, trained by F. Rodríguez, will be ridden by J. Grosjean.

Mil Azul, bay colt., [Russian Blue-Cuittled(Charismatic)], owned by Yeguada Urdiñ-Oriya, trained by J. L. de Salas, will be ridden by J. L. Borrego.

Risby, bay geld. (IRE, 2008) [Big Shuffle-Lonicera(Charmer)], owned by Cuadra Viguria, trained by J.M. Osorio, will be ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina

S Grillo, black colt (GB, 2008) [Val Royal-Santiago Blue(Relaunch)], owned by Cuadra Ussía-Figueroa, trained by G. Arizkorreta, will be ridden by V. Janacek. He won his last start: Premio AEPCC, a 1,100 m sprint, beating Golfo Pérsico by a nose.

Pippa Snudge, bay filly (IRE, 2009) [Strategic Prince-River Grand(Grand Lodge)] owned by Sunshin Racing, trained by P. Haley, will be ridden by A. Gómez. The only 2yo and the only filly of the race. She has four starts with two wins and two seconds.

Volcánico (IRE) wins the Premio Torre Arias

Volcánico (IRE) winner of the Gran Criterium last year, won today the Premio Torre Arias, a 1,400 m race for colts in La Zarzuela, traditional trial for the Premio Cimera (Spanish 2,000 Guineas), over a very heavy going. Barking was first for most of the way and stayed well advanced the home stretch, and Volcanico had to fight hard to beat Barking and resist the final charge of Cielo Canarias.

Cielo Canarias (IRE) [Exceed and Excel-Summer Dance(Sadler's Wells)] was second, with Sergei (IRE) [Gulch-Seasonal Style(Generous)] third and Barking (IRE) [Bahri-Pivot-d'Amour(Pivotal)] fourth.
Volcánico [Refuse to Bend-Zayana(Darshaan)]is owned by Cuadra Los Toneles and trained by Francisco Rodríguez and was ridden by Julien Grosjean.

Volcánico (number 2) beating Cielo Canarias (5). Photo courtesy of cortacabeza.wordpress.com

Here is the race: Premio Torre Arias 2011. Volcánico: dark blue body with yellow epaulettes, yellow cap.

Meanwhile, in the first race, a 1,800 m maiden race for colts, the winner was Arnuero (GB, 2008) [Sakhee-Penang Pearl(Bering)] half brother to none other than Harbinger, the highest rated horse in the world in 2010. It was the second start (after a second place last year) for this bay colt, owned by Cuadra Bering, trained by M. Delcher S. and ridden by Borja Fayos.