Criterium de Potrancas (2 yo fillies) this Sunday

The Criterium de Potrancas (or Premio Carlos Sobrino, as it was called) is a 1,400 m race for 2yo fillies, run at the La Zarzuela racetrack, Madrid.

The seven partants this year are:

Cattiva(FR, 2009), bay, [Zieten-Byre Bird(Diesis)], owned by Cuadra Di Benischi, trained by Bárbara Valenti, ridden by V. Janacek. 3 starts, 1 win, 1 placing

Galaxy (SPA, 2009), grey [Verglas y Yafoul(Torrential)], Owned by Cuadra San José, trained by J.A. Rodríguez, ridden by D. Delgado. 2 starts, 2 placings.

Irish Cliff (IRE, 2008), bay, [Marju-Miss Corinne(Mark of Esteem)], owned by Cuadra Chicago, trained by M. Delcher S, ridden by J. Horcajada. Two starts, one win, one placing.

Laura Moon(FR, 2009), bay, [Russian Blue-Partageuse(Green Tune)], owned by Cuadra Manola, trained by A. Sánchez C, ridden by J. Crocquevieille. Two starts, one win (Premio Primer Paso, one second (in France: Prix Pawneese).

Laura Moon (IRE) after winning the Primer Paso. Photo courtesy of Turfarganda.blogspot.com



Lucciole Lol (FR, 2009), bay, [Sorcerous-Sarayah(Danehill)], owned by Cuadra Cielo de Madrid, trained by O. Rodríguez, will be ridden by J.L. Borrego. One start, one placing

Precious Rose (USA, 2009), bay, [Elusive Quality-Libre(Fly so Free)], owned by Cuadra Bloke, trained by J. A. Rodríguez, will be ridden by J. L. Martínez, one start, one win, in Mijas, Premio Barney Curley

She Rules (SPA, 2009), grey, [Aussie Rules-Barannia(Barathea)], owned by Cuadra Zurraquin, trained by M. Hernández, will be ridden by Julien Grosjean. Three starts, one win, one placing

Winners of the last editions of the Criterium de Potrancas (called Premio Carlos Sobrino) are Clunia (2010, video here: Premio Carlos Sobrino 2010), Ercolini (2009), Aiboa (2008), Puntilla Bay (2007) and Nachita.

And in previos editions, some important fillies won this race: Robertiya (in 1989), Teresa (in 1986, video here:Premio Carlos Sobrino 1986) and Manola (in 1982)

Ercolini (IRE), Bottega (USA), Arriete Arrollador (GB) in the Premio Habitancum

The main race this next Sunday, April 3th is the Premio Habitancum, a 1,400 race for 4 y/o+ in the La Zarzuela racetrack. Partants are:

Bottega (USA, 2007) [Mineshaft-Sun is Up(Sunday Silence)] is a 4 y/o chestnut colt, owned by Cuadra Madroños, trained by M. Delcher S, that will be ridden by Jorge Horcajada. After winning the Criterium de Languedoc (France, Listed race) at two, he spent most of 2010 racing above 2,000 m and now turns to a shorter distance, that may be better suited to his characteristics.

Peñalén(GB, 2006) [King's Best-Quarter Note(Danehill)] won the Premio Antonio Blasco (1,400 2 y/o+) last autumn in Madrid and then won at Vilaseca and was 6th after a bad start in a race in France. He is trained by J. M. Osorio and owned by Cuadra Viguria and will be ridden by Jeremy Crocqueivieille

Amadeo Rey (IRE, 2007)[Intikhab-Friendly Warning(Warning)], owned by Cuara Martul and trained by Ana Imaz, was second in the Premio Cimera (Spanish 2,000 Guineas), 3rd in the Premio Claudio Carudel (won by Silverside) and 4th in the Premio Gobierno Vasco (the main mile in the summer season in San Sebastián). He will be ridden by J. B. Hamel.

Ariete Arrollador (GB, 2007) [Kingsalsa-Proud Douna(Kaldoun)] won the Premio Cimera but failed repeatedly after that race. Comes from a victory in France, in dirt. Owned by Cuadra Albero and trained by Guillermo Arizcorreta. He will be ridden by J. L Borrego.

Ercolini (IRE, 2007) [Pyrus-Bajan Belle(Efisio)] won the Premio Valderas (1,000 Guineas) last year. She didn't run since last summer.She is owned by Reza Pazooki and is trained by F. Rodríguez. Julien Grosjean will ride Ercolini.

The other partants are: Rayo Negro, Bellaside, Ave Titus, Camuray, Compton Park, El Africano, Flying Flute and Mariscal

Clunia (IRE) returns in the Premio Atlántida

Clunia (IRE, 2008) [Silent Times-Doohulla(Stravinsky)], the best 2 y/o filly of 2010 in Spain, trained by G. Villarta, ownd by Cuadra Brazacorta and ridden by Borja Fayos, will reappear after her winter rest in the Premio Atlántida, a 1,400 m race for 3 y/o fillies, traditional prep race for the Premio Valderas (Spanish 1,000 guineas), this Sunday in the La Zarzuela racecourse (Madrid).

Clunia. Photo courtesy of cortacabeza.wordpress.com

Clunia will face 7 rivals, including Queenside (USA) [Leroidesanimaux-Bragadocious], owned by Safsaf, trained by M. Delcher Sánchez, already winner this year in Mijas and second to Clunia in the Premio Carlos Sobrino and Sinapsis (GB) [Sinndar-Russian Beauty] owned by R. Cocheteaux and trained by J. M. Osorio. Also partants: Carioka (SPA) [Devil Moon], Azamor (SPA) [Slickly], Bucovina (SPA) [Dyhim Diamond], Pichuca (GB) [Silent Times] and Figueira da Foz (SPA) [Baptize]

Winners of this race in recent years have been Ercolini (2010), Wega (2009), Doraq (2008), Casbah (2007) and Afriketa (2006)

Official ratings (III): Ercolini (IRE), Plantagenet (SPA), Pazifiksturm (GER)

The filly Ercolini (2007, IRE) (Pyrus-Bajan Belle) is the highest rated 3 year old of 2010 in the classification issued by the Spanish handicappers. Owned by Reza Pazooki and trained by Francisco Rodríguez, Ercolini won the Premio Atlántida and the Premio Valderas (Spanish 1,000 guineas) in La Zarzuela, Madrid in the spring. Here is the Premio Valderas: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xd2pu9_sport (white body with blue spots, white and blue sleeves, white cap).

She also ran in France being second in the Prix Bagatelle (Listed race) and unplaced in the Gr. 3 Prix Leiurey in Deauville (in August).

At two (2009), Ercolini had been third in the Prix Miesque (France, Gr. 3) and won the Premio Carlos Sobrino (main race for 2 yo fillies in autumn).

Ercolini after winning the Premio Valderas (Spanish 1,000 guineas). Photo courtesy of cortacabeza.wordpress

Plantagenet (SPA, 2007) a chestnut colt by Trade Fair and Crafty Buzz, owned by Cuadra Plantagenet, trained by G. Arizcorreta and bred by Dehesa de Milagro is, along with Pazifiksturm (GER), the highest rated 3 year old colt in Spain. He has been always ridden by J.L. Borrego.

He won the Premio Nacional (2,200 m for Spanish breds) and the (Premio Villapadierna) Video in the spring. (Plantagenet's jockey: black body with red spots, black sleeves, red cap)

He refused to enter the starting gates in the Copa de Oro de San Sebastián (August 7th, 2,400 m 3yo+) in San Sebastián and in the fall, back in Madrid, although he ran well and won a prep race for the Memorial Duque de Toledo he finished a disappointing 7th in the Memorial (what we may call the Spanish "Arc", 2,400 m 3 y/o +). Whether he had a bad day or the hard pace tested his stamina remains to be seen in his next starts.


Pazifiksturm (GER, 2007) (Samum-La Parabol), a chestnut colt, owned by Cuadra Martul and trained by Ana Imaz, has had a proggressive campaign. He was fifth in the Spanish Derby, second to Bannaby in the Copa de Oro, then he won the Prix Soledad de Moratalla in France (Tarbes) and finally he won the Premio Villamejor (Spanish St. Leger, 2,800 m, 3 y/o). He was born in May and consequently may still show more progress.

Here is the Copa de Oro de San Sebastian (2,400 3yo+):
http://www.pasionporelturf.es/CarrerasDiferido.aspx?id=159. Plantagenet refused to enter the gates and Pazifiksturm made Gr. 1 winner Bannaby work to win the Copa de Oro in a thrilling finish. Pazifiksturm colors: body with green and black hoops, white sleeves, white cap

Pazifiksturm also has this collection of photos in youtube