GP de la Hispanidad this Sunday

One of the highlights of the Madrid autumn season is this Sunday's GP de la Hispanidad, a 1,600 m race for 3yo+, weight for age.

The partants this year are:
Ariete Arrollador (GB, 2007), a bay colt. [Kongsalsa-Proud Douna], owned by Cuadra Albero, trained by G. Arizkorreta, will be ridden by J. L. Borrego. Winner of the Cimera (2000 Guineas) last year.

Volapie (SPA, 2007), bay gelding [Multazem-Bassaver], owned by Cuadra Romana Alta, trained by M. J. Pérez, will be ridden by R. H. Huayas.

Abdel (SPA, 2008), a bay colt [Dyhim Diamond-Leonor de Guzmán], owned and trained by J. M. Osorio, Duque de Alburquerque, will be ridden by J. Crocquevieille. Has been running in 2200+ races, including his second place in the Copa de Oro de San Sebastián, now goes to the mile.

Bellaside (IRE, 2007), a bay filly [La Vie dei Colori-Brockton Saga], owned by Grupo Bolaños-Gran Canaria, E. León, will be ridden by J. L. Martínez. She was second to Volcánico in the Gobierno Vasco and then he won the Listed Premio Pietro Bessero in Milan. Was second in the 2010 edition.

Hands Up (FR, 2008), a bay colt [Panis-Bali Bloom], owned by Cuadra Nostrum, trained by J. L. Maroto, will be ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina.

Mil Azul (SPA, 2008) a bay colt [Russian Blue-Cuittled], owned by Yeguada Ordiñ-Oriya, trained by J. L. Salas, will be ridden by J. C. Cerqueira.

Tirión (USA, 2008), a bay colt [Royal Academy-Domenica's Dream], owned by Cuadra Chicago, trained by M. Delcher S, will be ridden by Jorge Horcajada.

Volcánico (IRE, 2008), a bay colt [Refuse to Bend-Zayana], owned by Cuadra Los Toneles, trained by F. Rodríguez, will be ridden by J. Grosjean. Champion 2yo colt in 2010, he has won the GP Claudio Carudel in the spring and the Gobierno Vasco in the summer.

Weststow (GB, 2008), a bay colt, [Medicean-Summer Sunset], owned by Cuadra Viguria, trained by J. M. Osorio, will be ridden by V. Janacek.

Volcánico winning the GP Claudio Carudel. Photo courtesy of Turfarganda.blogspot.com

The Gran Premio de la Hispanidad is the most important race over a mile in the Autumn season of Madrid. The last winners were Silverside (2010 and 2009), Shumookh (2008), Solita (2007), Trip to the Moon (2006) and Young Tiger (2005).

In 1993 and 1994, the race was won by Partipral (later Group 1 winner in Hong Kong). And the 1988 edition was won by Isabena, the grand dam of Entre Copas, Casaca and Vagabond Shoes

Casaca wins the Benítez de Lugo

Casaca (GB, 2006) [Medicean-Priena(Priolo)], the chestnut filly owned by Cuadra África, trained by J. M. Osorio and ridden by Jeremy Crocquevieille, won today the Premio Ricardo Ruiz Benítez de Lugo (2,200 m, 3yo+ fillies) at the La Zarzuela racetrack in Madrid. Narya (IRE, 2007) [Halling], prop. of Cuadra Miranda, trained by M. Delcher S and ridden by Jorge Horcajada was second, with Clunia (Silent Times) third and Tasha Linda (Where or When) fourth.

The race was commanded by Lisselan Beauty with Narya second until the end of the last turn in which Narya took the lead and entered the stretch along the rail. Clunia charged but couldn't surpass Narya. Casaca came from behind to beat both by one and a half lengths.

Casaca winning the Benitez de Lugo. Photo courtesy of turfarganda.blogspot.com


Here is the race: Premio Ricardo Ruiz Benítez de Lugo 2011. Casaca is a chestnut filly with white blaze and her jockey wears dark and light green vertical lines.

This is the fourth win in five starts this year for Casaca who has won both the main races for 3yo+ fillies in San Sebastián (Premio Kutxa) and Madrid (this Premio Benítez de Lugo).

And this 2011 is being a dream year for owner-breeder Cuadra África, trainer J.M. Osorio (Duque de Alburquerque), jockey Jeremy Crocquevieille .... and dam Priena (Priolo-Isabena), since the siblings Entre Copas (Sakhee) and Casaca (Medicean) have won Mijas Cup, GP de Madrid, Premio Corpa, GP de San Sebastián (Entre Copas) and the two main races for fillies (Kutxa and Benítez de Lugo).

Also in this meeting, in a 1,400 m race for debutant 2 y/os, the winner was Plenipotenciario (IRE, 2009) [Caradak-Poliaurea], owned by Cuadra Ussía-Figueroa, trained by J. L. De Salas and ridden by Marco Secci, with Saphirside (IRE, 2009) (Elusive City) second and Vraivita (SPA, 2009) [Fol Parade] third. Plenipotenciario is the third winner for Milagro's stallion Caradak, after Fearside and Matusalen (this last, unbeaten in three starts).

Vagabond Shoes (IRE), 2nd in the Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord (gr.3-FR)

The 4 yo chestnut colt Vagabond Shoes [Beat Hollow-Atiza(Singspiel)] owned by Dr. Salmeán, trained by Yan Durepaire and ridden by Olivier Peslier, was second yesterday in the Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord, a Gr. 3, 1,600 m race for 4yo+ in the Chantilly racetrack. The winner was the heavy favourite Byword (Peintre Celebre), the Gr. 1 winner owned by Khalid Abdullah, trained by Andre Fabre (who saddle four Group winners yesterday in Chantilly) and ridden by Maxime Guyon.

Vagabond Shoes was 6th in his previous start (Prix de Montretout, Listed race) in May 5th. He was fourth in his last start in Spain, back in October 2010, when he was beaten by Silverside, Bellaside and Shumookh in the GP Hispanidad, the most important mile race of the autumn in La Zarzuela, Madrid.

A half sister to Vagabond Shoes, Noviza (GB, 2008) [Noverre-Atiza(Singspiel)], owned by Cuadra África, made her debut this past Sunday, in the 2,100 m race won by Arnuero. The dam of Vagabond Shoes, Atiza, is half sister to Priena, dam of Entre Copas (winner of the MiJas Cup and of the Premio Corpa) and Casaca (2nd in the Valderas and in the Beamonte 2009 and recent winner in Madrid).

The dam of Atiza and Priena, Isabena (Star Appeal), won the GP de la Hispanidad and was 2nd in the GP Ricardo Ruiz Benítez de Lugo (main race for 3 yo+ fillies in the fall at La Zarzuela)