Premio Chamartín tomorrow at La Zarzuela

The main race of tomorrow's meeting at La Zarzuela is the Premio Chamartín (1,200 m, 3yo+, 9,000 euros for the winner), with the following participants:


Compton Park (GB, 2007), ch. colt [Compton Place-Corps de Ballet(Fasliyev)], owned by R. Teasdale R, trained by J. L. Eyre, will be ridden by J. L. Borrego

Valiant Blue (IRE, 2009), bay colt [Moss Vale-Tiltili(Spectrum)], owned by Cuadra Agrado, trained by Teo Callejo, ridden by V. Janacek, will be ridden by F. Jiménez

Valle (USA, 2009), bay colt [E Dubai-Azelna(Tropular)], owned by Cuadra Maldón, trained by M. Delcher, will be ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina

Makaamen (GB, 2006), bay gelding [Selkirk-Bird Key (Cadeaux Generaux)], owned by Daniel Roset, trained by Teo Callejo

Manhaj (GB, 2008), bay geld. [Medicean-La Dangeville(Danehill)], owner by Cuadra Nortenha, trained by T. Martins, will be ridden by M. Gomez

Otro Gintonic (GB, 2009), bay colt [Trade Fair-Nuit Sans Fin(Lead on Time)], owned by Cuadra Factor Sorpresa, trained by G. Arizkorreta, will be ridden b C. Fiocchi

S Grillo (GB, 2008), gray gelding [Val Royal- Santiago Blue(Relaunch)], owned by Cuadra Ussía-Figueroa, trained by G. Arizkorreta, will be ridden by V. Janacek.

Tashqeel (GB, 2008), bay colt [Medicean-Ulfah(Danzig)], owned by Cuadra San Acacio, trained by O. Anaya, will be ridden by A. Gómez

Dublin Maura (GB, 2009) is a bay filly [Iceman-Atiza(Singspiel)], owned by Cuadra Formentor, trained by G. Arizkorreta, will be ridden by M. Secci

David's Divina (USA, 2010), ch. filly [Sabre d?argent-David's Delight(David)], owned by Lisselan Famrs, trained by A. R. Acosta, will be ridden by I. Koplikova


The other races of the meeting are:

Premio Cría Nacional - Colindres, a 2,000 m race for Spanish bred 3yos

Premio Leyla (1,400 m, 3yo debutant fillies). Among the participants, Lady Revel (GB; 2010) [Mount Nelson-Fabulous Speed(Silver Hawk)] is a half sister to Classic winner and Listed placed Aspasia de Mileto. New Parade is a full sister to Classic winner Festeiro. Vanity Fair is a half sister to the great Spanish miler Lorgan

Premio Wildsun is a 1,600 m race for maiden 3yos

And there is also a 2,200 m handicap

Infinity One won the Premio Comunidad de Madrid

Infinity One (SPA, 2009) [Green Tune-Tropical Chic(Thunder Gulch)], owned by Cuadra Tres y Medio, trained by B. Valenti and ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina, won last Sunday the Premio Comunidad de Madrid (2,100 m, 3yo fillies, 15,000 euros for the winner), beating She Rules (FR, 2009) (Aussie Rules), with Nonalass (SPA, 2009) (Fol Parade) third. Sportside (Refuse to Bend) was fourth.
Video: Premio Comunidad de Madrid 2012

This Premio Comunidad de Madrid is considered a trial race for the GP Beamonte (Spanish Oaks). This is the second Premio Comunidad de Madrid for owner Cuadra Tres y Medio and trainer Barbara Valenti (they won in 2010 with Manly Dream). Barbara Valenti had also a 1-3, since she trains also Nonalass.

In the rest of the merting, results were:

As de Thomas (Bahri) won the 1,600 m claiming race, with Secretside (Bachelor Duke) 2nd.

Mayerling (full brother to Infinity One) won the 1st part of the 2,100 m split handicap with Eco Jar (Wagon Master) 2nd.

Avon Ferry (Avonbridge) won the 2nd part of the handicap, with Le Courlis (Broadway Flyer) 2nd

In the 1,800 m handicap, the winner was Leonidas Basileus (Hawkeye) with Kingside (Enrique) 2nd.

and the 1,200 m race for 3yo was won by Otro Gintonic (Tradefair) with Ladykin (Holy Roman Emperor) 2nd

Nuredyn wins the Premio Cimera

Nuredyn (FR, 2009) [Dyhim Diamond-Nurenieva(Enrique)], the bay colt owned by Cuadra Zurraquín and trained by Mariano Hernández, won yesterday the Premio Cimera (Spanish 2,000 Guineas, 1,600 m, 3yo colts, 24,000 euros for the winner) with jockey Oscar Ortiz de Urbina, beating Riky Rock (Invincible Spirit) by two and a half lengths and Celtic Rock (Rock of Gibraltar), with Joropo (Kheleyf) fourth.

Nuredyn with Oscar Ortiz de Urbina, winners of the Cimera. Photo courtesy of http://turfarganda.blogspot.com

Stratvs Canarias and Albret jointly lead the race, with a fast pace, with favourite Matusalén in a comfortable position in the middle of the field and Nuredyn last. In the home straight, Riky Rock attacked in what seemed a decisive way, but Nuredyn came very strongly from the outside to win easily.

Here is the video: http://www.hipodromodelazarzuela.es/carreras/carrera/video/34793 and here is a 15 minutes video (including footage of the previous edition): Premio Cimera 2012

The dam of Nuredyn, Nurenieva, was herself a Classic winner of the Spanish 1,000 Guineas in 2006 and was also second to Jade in the Memorial Duque de Toledo and third in the Premio Villamejor (Spanish St. Leger), for the same owners, Cuadra Zurraquín, breeders of the Nuredyn. It's the third Classic for Cuadra Zurraquín that also won the Spanish Derby with Premier Galop. And it's the second Classic win for Dyhim Diamond, sire also of Bannaby, who won the Villamejor.

In the rest of the meeting, Giggolo Star (also by Dyhim Diamond) won the 2,200 m race for Spanish bred 3yo, Paniside (Panis) won the 1,400 m race for maiden 3yo, Ranyan (Gold Away) won the 2,100 m race for maiden 3yo, Don Hernando Hab (Delfos) won the 2,000 m claiming race for 4yo+ and Eco Jar (Wagon Master) won the 2,100 m handicap for 4yo+

Premio Cimera (2,000 Guineas), Sunday 15, La Zarzuela

The highlight of the meeting of this Sunday at La Zarzuela, Madrid ,is the Premio Cimera (1,600 m, 3yo colts, 24,000 euros for the winner) that this year will have a field of 9 colts, after one of the entries (Oberón) died this week in the training track.

The nine participants are:

Albret (IRE, 2009), gray colt [Clodovil-Piccelina(Piccolo)], owned by Cuadra Quinto Real, trained by G. Arizkorreta, will be ridden by Vaclav Janacek. He won the Critérium Internacional last summer in San Sebastián and was second to Spahirside in the Torre Arias


Celtic Rock (GB, 2009), chestnut colt [Rock of Gibraltar-Luna Celtica(Celtic Swing)], owned by Cuadra Habit, trained by J. C. Fernández, will be ridden by J. L. Martínez.

Joropo (FR, 2009), bay colt [Kheleyf-Noble World(Winged Love)], owned by R. Cocheteaux, trained by X. Thomas, will be ridden by R. C. Montenegro.

Matusalen (SPA, 2009), bay colt [Caradak-Bixaare(Xaar)], owned by Cuadra Miranda, trained by M. Delcher, will be ridden by J. Horcajada. He was champion 2yo in 2011, winning the Gran Critérium and has run in Meydan, being fifth in the Meydan Classic  with a disappointing performance in his second race there.

Matusalén, champion 2yo in 2011, with Jorge Horcajada.  Photo courtesy of http://turfarganda.blogspot.com

Nuredyn (FR, 2009), bay colt [Dyhim Diamond-Nurenieva(Enrique)], owned by Cuadra Zurraquín, trained by M. Hernández, will be ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina. 2nd in the Gran Criterium, third in the Torre Arias.

Otro Gintonic (GB, 2009), bay colt [Trade Fair-Nuit Sans Fin(Lead on Time)], owned by Cuadra Factor Sorpresa, trained by G. Arizkorreta, will be ridden by J. L. Borrego.

Riky Rock (IRE, 2009), a bay colt [Invincible Spirit-Hataana(Robellino)] owned by Cuadra Bloke, trained by J. A. Rodríguez, will be ridden by Borja Fayos.

Saphirside (IRE, 2009), a bay colt [Elusive City-Silirisa(Sillery)], owned by Cuadra SafSaf, trained by M. Delcher, will be ridden by J. Grosjean. Winner of the Premio Torre Arias , beating Albret, Nuredyn and Celtic Rock.

Stratvs Canarias (IRE, 2009),a bay colt [Soviet Star-Hekayaat(Sinndar)], owned by Cuadra Grupo Bolaños, trained by Enrique León, will be ridden by J Crocquevieille. Unbeaten in two starts, he won the Handicap Opcional  beating Otro Gintonic

Stratvs Canarias. Photo courtesy of http://turfarganda.blogspot.com

The winner of the Cimera last year was Festeiro (Fol Parade)


The rest of the Sunday meeting includes a 2,200 m race for Spanish bred 3yos, a 1,400 m race for 3yos, a 2,100 m race for 3yos, a claiming 2,000 race for 4yos and a 2,100 m handicap for 4yos,

Stratvs Canarias wins the Handicap Opcional

Stratvs Canarias (IRE, 2009) [Soviet Star-Hetayaat(Sinndar)], owned by Cuadra Grupo Bolaños, trained by E. León and ridden by J. Crocquevieille, won the Handicap Opcional (1,600 m, 3yo, 9,000 euros for the winner), beating Otro Gintonic (GB, 2009) [Trade Fair-Nuit Sans Fin(Lead on Time)] by 3/4 of a length, with Castellana (SPA, 2009) [Yorik-Fellinia(War Chant)], third and Esgues (SPA, 2009) [Dyhim Diamond] fourth.

Stratvs Canarias (Soviet Star) and Jeremy Crocquevieille, winners of the Handicap Opcional. Photo courtesy of http://turfarganda.blogspot.com

Carrying the top weight, Stratvs Canarias won almost wire to wire, taking the lead soon after the start and holding off the final attack of Otro Gintonic. The first two left the third in the post our lengths behind. This is the second win in two starts for Stratvs Canarias.

Here is the race: Handicap Opcional 2012


Meneldor (IRE, 2008) [Barathea-Cartesian(Shirley Heights)], owned by Gonzalo Hernando-Aboin, trained by A. Carrasco and ridden by F. Jiménez won the Premio Fernán Núñez (2,200 m, 4yo, Handicap), beating Royal Imari (Royal Academy) and Ramallah (Federal Trial). Video of Premio Fernán Núñez 2012


In the 1,600 m race for debutant 3yo fillies, Premio Cruzcampo, the winner was Ketala (FR, 2009) [Gold Away-Afriketa(Desert Story)], owned by Cuadra LAC international, trained by J. López and ridden by Marco Secci, who caught Hello Snow (Gold Away) in the final strides with a strong finish, with Chatarrilla (Sinndar) third. Afriketa, the dam of Ketala, won the Benítez de Lugo, at three, beating Jade, Guadalmedina and Johanie Cara, among others

Here is the video: Premio Cruzcampo

The equivalent race for colts, Premio El Corte Ingles, was won by Kadmios (FR, 2009) [Kavafi-Eriza(Distant Relative)], owned by Cuadra Nakata and trained and ridden by J.L. Martínez. Riky Rock (Fantastic Light) was second and Jokan (Zamindar), was third. Video: Premio El Corte Inglés


In the other two races, a split handicap over 1,800 m, 4yo+, the winners were Jakemate (Denver County) in the first part and Bailongo (Egeo), in the second part. They are both products of Shiva (Policy Matter)

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).