Gran Premio Claudio Carudel this Sunday

Established only 5 years ago, the GP Claudio Carudel is a 1,600 m race for 3yo+, held in the La Zarzuela racecourse (turf), with a prize of 27,000 euros for the winner. The 2011 edition has the following partants:

Ariete Arrollador (GB, 2007) [Kingsalsa-Proud Donna(Kaldoun)]. Winner of the 2010 Premio Cimera, he was second to Amadeo Rey in the Premio Habitancum this season. Owned by Cuadra Albero, trained by G. Arizkorreta, he will be ridden by J. L. Borrego.

Bottega (USA, 2007) [Mineshaft-Sun is Up(Sunday Silence)] is a chestnut colt, owned by Cuadra Madroños and trained by M. Delcher S. He will be ridden by Borja Fayos. Bottega won the Criterium de Languedoc (Listed race) at two. He spent most of his 3yo season running 2,400 m races and has been redirected to 1,600-1,400 m this year. He won his last start in Tarbes (France).

Compton Park (GB, 2007) [Compton Place-Corps de Ballet] Owned by Rachel Teadale Racing, trained by J. L. Eyre, he will be ridden by J. L. Martínez.

Doende (SPA, 2006) [Wagon Master-Chloe(Green Desert)] a bay colt, owned by Cuadra Río Cubas, trained by J. C. Fernández, will be ridden by B. Fayos. Doende won the 1,800 m Gran Premio de Nacionales, beating Suntuoso and then was second to Suntuoso in the GP de Andalucía.

Makaamen (GB, 2006), [Selkirk-Bird Key] is a chestnut gelding, owned and trained by T. Callejo that will be ridden by F. Lynch

Peñalen (GB, 2006) [King's Best-Quarter Note] owned by Cuadra Viguria, trained by J. M. Osorio, will be ridden by J. Crocquevieille.

Shumookh (GB, 2003) [Mujahid-Midway Lady(Alleged)] owned by Cuadra Los Aspirantes-Dos tumbos, trained by T. Callejo, will be ridden by J. L. Cerqueira. He won in his last start, beating Bellaside

Silverside (USA, 2006) [Pleasantly Perfect-Lyrical Ghost] owned by Cuadra SafSaf, trained by Frederick Sánchez is arguably the best miler in Spain and, along with his starts in Turkey, France and Dubai, he won the 2009 Premio Cimera (2,000 Guineas), beating As de Trébol, the GP de la Hispanidad, twice (2009 and 2010, the GP de la Hispanidad is a weight for age 1,600 mile race in Madrid in autumn) and the last edition of this Gran Premio Claudio Carudel. Silverside was 3rd in the Prix Edmond Blanc Gr. 3 this year.

Suntuoso (SPA, 2005 [Sherman-Ninuca(Ti King)], won the Gran Premio de Andalucía in the Dos Hermanas racetrack (Seville), beating Doende and Compton Park, and has reappeared some weeks ago, beaten by Shumookh, Bellaside

Volapie (SPA, 2007) [Multazem-Bassaver] is a bay gelding, owned by Cuadra Romana Alta, trained by M. J. Pérez, that will be ridden by M. Díaz. Volapie was fourth in the Mijas Cup and then won in the dirt in Madrid.

Bellaside (IRE, 2007) (La Vie del Colori-Brockton Saga] is a bay filly, owned by Grupo Bolaños Gran Canaria, trained by E. León and will be ridden by V, Janacek. She was one of the best fillies at 2, and she was second to Silverside in the GP Hispanidad last autumn. This season, she was 7th in the Premio Habitancum, 1st in the Premio Andrés Covarrubias and 3rd to Shumookh and Lince in her last start.

Volcánico (IRE, 2008) [Refuse to Bend-Zayana], a bay colt, is the only 3 yo of the race. He was champion 2 yo, and began well his 3yo season, winning the Torre Arias, but was 5th in the Premio Cimera and third in his last start. He is owned by Cuadra Los Toneles, trained by F. Rodríguez and will be ridden by R. C. Montenegro.


The race is named after Claudio Carudel, the French jockey, established in Spain for a long time, almost a household name in Spain for anyone and who was the jockey for Villapadierna, Beamonte and then Cuadra Rosales, a historical stable owned by the late Antonio Blasco. Carudel came to Spain from Chantilly (France) at 19, in 1958 and retired from racing in 1989, after winning a great number of the biggest races in Spain, including 12 times the GP de Madrid.

Winners of the previous editions of the race are: Silverside (2010), Lorgan (2009), Yepes (2008), Trueno Negro (2007) and Dirce (2006). Here is the video of the last running of this race: GP Claudio Carudel 2010, with Silverside beating the frontrunner Shumookh, both partants this Sunday.

Also this Sunday, two miles and first product of Caradak

Besides the Premio Beamonte, the meeting of this Sunday includes two interesting races over a mile:

The Premio Patrimonio Nacional, for 4 yo+, includes among its partants Shumookh [GB, 2003, bay gelding] [Mujahid-Midway Lady] owned by Cuadra Los Aspirantes-Dos Tumbos, trained by T. Callejo and ridden by J. C. Cerqueira and Bellaside (IRE, 2007, bay filly) [La Vie dei Colori-Brockton Saga], owned by Grupo Bolaños-Gran Canaria, trained by E. León and ridden by E. León, the 2-1 of the recent Premio Andrés Covarrubias.

Suntuoso (SPA, 2005) reappears after his win in the GP de Andalucía, a 1,600 m race in the Dos Hermanas racetrack (Seville).

Guerendiain (SPA, 2007) [Dyhim Diamond-Sharp and Star], owned by Cuadra San Cristóbal and trained by J. López, has won 4 of her 5 last starts and her last 4 starts in Madrid. She will be ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina.

Peñalén (GB, 2006) [King's Best-Quarter Note], a bay gelding owned by Cuadra Viguria and trained by J. M. Osorio, will be ridden by J. Crocquevieille.
Other partants are: Turrialba, Lince and Whoswithya

The 6th race, Premio Wildsun, a 1,600 m race for 3 y/o, with only 6 partants has, however, the presence of Volcánico (IRE) [Refuse to Bend-Zayana], winner of the Premio Torre Arias and best 2 y/o in 2010, who will face Dixlesio (IRE) [Ifraaj-Sabaah Elfull], winner of 3 of his last 4 outings, and second in the other, Del Cossa (FR) [Della Francesca-La Frandiere], recent winner in his third start, Don Fernando Hab (SPA) [Intikhab-Flying Fulmar], El Incendio (IRE) and Don Pablos (IRE).


In the first race, a 1,000 m race for 2 yo debutants, Fearside will be the first product of the Dehesa de Milagro stallion Caradak to race (at least in Spain). She is a bay filly by Caradak-Fear to Tread(Peintre Celebre), owned by Cuadra SafSaf and trained by F. Rodríguez.

Premio Velayos and Premio Covarrubias this Sunday 8th

The Sunday May 8th meeting in Madrid (La Zarzuela) features two very interesting races: the Premio Velayos (2,200 m, 3 yo, traditional trial race for the Villapadierna - Spanish Derby) and the Premio Andrés Covarrubias (1,400 m, 4 yo+) with the return to La Zarzuela of As de Trébol (USA), recent Gr. 3 placed in Dubai.

In the Premio Velayos, the third race of the card, the favourite is Arnuero (GB) [Sakhee-Pennang Pearl], the half brother to Harbinger who won his last (and second) start: Premio SEPI. Arnuero is owned by Cuadra Bering and trained by M. Delcher S. He will be ridden by Borja Fayos.

Arnuero (GB, 2008) after his win in March 27th. Photo courtesy of: turfarganda.blogspot.com

Arnuero will face other five partants:

Fleche d'Arcis (FR) [Anabaa Blue-Feale(Barathea)], owned by Cuadra Talismán, trained by J. A. Rodríguez, will be ridden by J. Grosjean. He won in his last start, but this race seems beyond his reach.

Francesco Cara (FR, 2008) [Della Francesca-Magic Cara] is half brother to Johannie Cara (filly, 2003) (Johann Quatz), third in the Spanish Oaks and in the Gran Premio de Madrid. He has two starts with a third and a fourth. He is owned by Cuadra Santa Bárbara and trained by T. Callejo and will be ridden by J. C. Cerqueira.

Indiano (SPA, 2008) [Intikhab-Badaayer], owned by El Potro Club, trained by G. Arizkorreta, will be ridden by V. Janacek. He was beaten by Arnuero (see race above) and then he was second to Abdel in this race

Llanes (USA) [Giant's Causeway-Coachela(Danehil)]. Owned by Cuadra Bering, trained by M. Delcher S, will be ridden by Jorge Horcajada

Malkova (FR) [Xaar-Bonne Gargotte(Poliglote)]. Owned by Luis Alberto Núñez, trained by J. A. Rodríguez, will be ridden by J. Crocquevieille.

Llanes and Malkova were second and third, respectively, in the Premio Nouvel An won by Happy Few


The Premio Andrés Covarrubias (1,400 m, 4 y/o+) also has a very interesting field: Ariete Arrollador, winner of the Premio Cimera in 2010, As de trébol (USA), back from Dubai, Amadeo Rey, recent winner of the Premio Habitancum, Shumookh, the highly versatile gelding, Peñalen (GB), winner of the Premio Antonio Blasco last year, Bellaside (IRE), Ave Titus (GB), Magic Victory (GB), Montalban (FR) and Whoswithya (IRE).

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