Trial races for the Memorial tomorrow Sunday

The Sunday meeting at La Zarzuela includes  2 races as preparatory races for the Memorial Duque de Toledo (October 21th). Both are 2,200 races with 8,000 euros for the winners

These are the participants in the race for 4yo+ (Premio Cruzcampo-Chacal):

Domeside (GB, 2006), bay colt [Domedriver-Buck's Fizz(Kris)], owned by Cuadra Safsaf, trained by M. Delcher S., will be ridden by J. Grosjean. Winner of the 2009 Villapadierna (Spanish Derby).

Karluv Most (FR, 2006), bay colt, [Della Francesca-La Vlatava(Grand Lodge)], owned by Cuadra Cholaica, trained by J. L. Maroto, will be ridden by Charles Nora. He won the GP Ciudad de Madrid in his last start and won the Memorial Duque de Toledo in 2010.


Arnuero (GB, 2008), bay colt [Sakhee-Penang Pearl(Bering)], owned by Cuadra Medreal, trained by M. Delcher S, will be ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina. He was 2nd to Ayanz in the last Memorial Duque de Toledo

Coside (USA, 2008), gray colt [Cozzene-Fairy Heights(Fairy King)], owned by Cuadra Safsaf, trained by M. Delcher S, will be ridden by J. Horcajada

Kurdo (FR, 2008), bay colt [Baptize-La Sayida(Fairy King)], owned by Yeguada AGF, trained by G. Arizkorreta, will be ridden by V. Janacek

Señor Miranda (GB, 2007), bay colt [Fantastic Light-Ringing Hill(Carhmwood Forest)], owned by Cuadra Los Toneles, trained by F. Rodríguez, will be ridden by J. Crocquevieille

Red Soles (IRE, 2008), bay filly [Barathea-Inchoate(Machiavellian)], owned by Cuadra Internorte, trained by T. Martins will be ridden by J. L. Borrego

In the equivalent race for 3yo (Premio Royal Gait), participants are:

Galipoli (FR, 2009), bay colt [Sulamani-Sweet Willa(Assert)], owned by Cuadra San Rafael, trained by Teo Callejo, will be ridden by J. B. Hamel
Winner of the Premio Velayos 2012.


Arsalan (GB, 2009), bay colt [Halling-Kali(Linamix)], owned by Reza Pazooki, trained by F. Rodríguez, will be ridden by J. Grosjean

Cuentista (SPA, 2009), ch. colt [Halling-Clever Cloggs(Nashwan)], owned by Cuadra Odisea, trained by I. Gómez, will be ridden by A. Gómez

Giggolo Star (SPA, 2009), ch.colt [Dyhim Diamond-Flamingo Star(Limpid)], owned by Cuadra Magaña, trained by J. C. Fernández R, will be ridden by J. L. Martínez

Gran Chipi (FR, 2009), bay colt [Green Tune-Cerita(Woodman)], owned by Cuadra Popular, trained by G. Arizkorreta, will be ridden by V. Janacek.

Krann (GB, 2009), bay colt [Trade Fair-Musical Score(Blushing Flame)],owned by Cuadra Dos Hermanas, trained by J. M. Osorio, will be ridden by J. Crocquevieile

Ranyan (SPA, 2009), ch. gelding [Gold Away-Triple Two(Pivotal)], owned by Cuadra Agrado, trained by Teo Callejo, will be ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina


There is also an interesting 1,500 m race for 2yos, Premio Asociación de Propietarios and the three parts of a split handicap over 1,800 m.

Alonso wins the GP Nacional

Alonso (SPA, 2009), chestnut colt [Green Tune-Lady Cree(Medicean)], won last Sunday the GP Nacional, (2,200 m, Spanish bred 3yos), with jockey Julien Grosjean for trainer Yan Durepaire and owners Cuadra Kif-Kif. Phuket (SPA, 2009), bay colt (Multazem-New Vert(Vert Amande)] was second, Giggolo Star (Dyhim Diamond) was third and Nuredyn (Dyhim Diamond) was fourth.

Alonso (SPA, 2009) (Green Tune), winner of the GP Nacional 2012 with J. Grosjean. Photo courtesy of http://turfarganda.blogspot.com

Here is the video: GP Nacional 2012

This is the first race in Spain of Alonso,  who had run only in France. The 2nd, Phuket is a half brother to 2 GP Nacional winners, Newango and Festeiro.


In the rest of the meeting, Ranyan (SPA, 2009) ch. geld [Gold Away-Triple Two(Pivotal)] with V. Janacek won a 2,200 m handicap for 3yo, carrying the top weight, with Esgues (Dyhim Diamond) second. Here is the video

In  the second race, a 1,600 m race for 3yos, there was a 1-2 for sire Rock of Gibraltar, with the winner Alduides (IRE, 2009), ch. colt [Rock of Gibraltar-Misdirect(Darshaan)], beating Celtic Rock (who was 2rd in the Cimera). Video: Premio Marca

Albuhera (Devil Moon-Lili d'Aubois(Lycius)], won the Premio Precoz (900 m, 2yo) with Jorge Horcajada for owner Cuadra Cacharela and trained J. A. Rodríguez, with Cartoon Rouge (Vita Rosa) second.

Band Karo GB, 2008) bay colt [Desert Style-Khaiyala(Kahyasi)] won the 4th race, (1,800 m, 4yo+, amateur jockeys), with Del Cossa (Della Francesca) 2nd.

And Kurdo (Baptize) won the 2,200 m handicap race for amateur jockeys, with Blanca de Navarra (Limpid) 2nd

Entre Copas wins the Gladiateur

One day after his half sister Casaca placed third in the Prix Fille de L'Air, Entre Copas (GB, 2004) won his sixth win in seven starts this year, winning the Premio Gladiateur (4,000 m, 4yo+). The ch. gelding by Sakhee and Priena(Priolo), owned and bred by Cuadra África, trained by J. M. Osorio and ridden by J. Crocquevieille, was the first by three quarters of a length, witj Domeside (GB, 2006) [Domedriver-Buck's Fizz], with Duke third and Karluv Most fourth, both far behind and Pazifiksturm last.

Duke was the front runner, along with his stable mate Karluv Most, for the first half of the race. In the second pass along the stretch, Pazifiksturm took the command, only to lose it in the last turn. After that, Entre Copas launched his attack, follwed by Domeside, and the race became a match race, with Entre Copas winning.

Here is the video: Premio Gladiateur 2011.

This is the third Gladiateur for Entre Copas, who was second to Carmanor last year.

In the race for 2yo debutants (premio Cadena Ser), the winner was Cascabel (SPA, 2009), a ch. filly [Dyhim Diamond-Channel(Sharp n'Early)], owned by Cuadra Pincal, trained by Angel Sánchez and ridden by M. Borrego, with Iune (USA, 2009) a bay filly [Proud Citizen-Jacira(Sillery)] second with jockey Jorge Horcajada for Cuadra Madroños and trainer M. Delcher. Here is the race: Premio Cadena Ser.

Jacira (dam of Iune) won the Copa de Oro de San Sebastián, had a yearling filly (by Arch) for sale at Arqana, sold in 65,000 euros. Jacira is also the dam of Royal Imari (Royal Academy), who won yesterday.

The Premio Veil Picard (1,800 m, 2yo) was won by Arsalan (GB, 2009) a bay colt [Halling-Kali(Linamix)], owned by Reza Pazooki, trained by F. Rodríguez and ridden by J. B. Hamel. Gran Chipi (Green Tune) was second and Giggolo Star (Dyhim Diamond) was third. Video: Premio Veil Picard 2011

Matusalén wins the Gran Critérium

Matusalén (SPA, 2009) [Caradak-Bixaare(Xaar)], owned by Cuadra Aller, trained by M. Delcher S and ridden by Jorge Horcajada, won today the Gran Critérium (1,600 m, 2yo) in the La Zarzuela racetrack, with Nuredyn (FR, 2009) [Dyhim Diamond-Nurenieva(Enrique)] (Cuadra Zurraquín, tr. by M. Hernández, ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina) second, one and a half lengths behind and Plenipotenciario (IRE, 200) [Caradak-Poliaurea(Poliglote)] (Cuadra Ussía-Hinojosa, trained by J. L. de Salas, ridden by Ryan Moore) third another length behind. Gran Chipi was fourth.

Saphirside took the lead and maintained it until the beginning of the home stretch. Nuredyn launched his attack (with somewhat immature ways), but a more serious Matusalen catch him to win. Plenipotenciario came from behind to finish third.

Matusalen (SPA, 2009) [Caradak-Bixaare(Xaar)], winning the Gran Criterium. Photo courtesy of turfarganda.blogspot.com


Matusalén remains unbeaten in four starts, and his wins include the Criterium Nacional (San Sebastián, Spanish bred 2yos, the Premio Dehesa de Milagro (bonus race for the Milagro Sale) and this Gran Critérium, the top race for 2yo. His win represents the first win in the Gran Critérium for a Spanish bred since the reopening of La Zarzuela in 2005.

Caradak wins the most important race for 2yo with his first crop, scoring also the third place of Plenipotenciario.

Here is the video:
Gran Critérium 2011

Gran Critérium, 1,600 m, 2 yo, Sunday 23th in Madrid

One of the highlights of the autumn season in Madrid (La Zarzuela) is the Gran Criterium, a 1,600 m race for 2 yo, the most important race for two year olds, that will be run this next Sunday. The 2011 edition has the added interest of the presence of one of the leading jockeys in England, Ryan Moore, who will ride Plenipotenciario.

The partants this year, next Sunday are all colts:

Celtic Rock (GB, 2009) [Rock of Gibraltar-Luna Celtica], owned by Cuadra Habit, trained by J. C. Fernández, will be ridden by J. Crocquevieille. Second to Albret in the Criterium Internacional in San Sebastián.

Gran Chipi (FR, 2009) [Green Tune-Cerita], owned by Cuadra Popular, trained by G. Arizkorreta, will be ridden by J. L. Borrego. Gran Chipi is half sister to Abril (Anabaa), a very good filly (Dual Classic placed and winner of the Premio Kutxa)

Matusalen (SPA, 2009) [Caradak-Bixaare], owned by Cuadra Aller, trained by M. Delcher S., will be ridden by J. Horcajada. Unbeaten in three starts, including the Criterium Nacional in San Sebastián and the Premio Dehesa de Milagro, beating the then Listed placed Monte Napoleone

Nuredyn (SPA, 2009) [Dyhim Diamond-Nurenieva], owned by Cuadra Zurraquín, trained by M. Hernández, will be ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina. He won the Copa de Criadores in his last start.

Otro Gintonic (GB, 2009) [Trade Fair-Nuit Sans Fin], owned by Cuadra Factor Sorpresa, trained by G. Arizkorreta, will be ridden by V. Janacek.

Plenipotenciario (IRE, 2009) [Caradak-Poliaurea], owned by Cuadra Ussía-Hinojosa, trained by J L. de Salas, will be ridden by Ryan Moore. Winner of his only start: video beating Saphirside and Nuredyn.

Saphirside (IRE, 2009) [Elusive City-Silirisa], owned by Cuadra Safsaf, trained by M. Delcher S, will be ridden by J. Grosjean. Beaten by Plenipotenciario, he won his next start.

Last winners of the Gran Critérium have been: Volcánico (2010), Adjuge (2009), As de Trébol (in 2008), Rituss (2007), What a Caper (2006) and Baldoria (2005).