Premio Torre Arias, Sunday 25 March, La Zarzuela

The third day of the La Zarzuela spring season has as its main attraction the Premio Torre Arias (1,400 m, 3yo colts, 9,000 euros for the winner), traditional trial race for the Premio Cimera. Only six colts will run, and 4 of them ran in the Gran Criterium 2011 last autumn (not Matusalén, the winner, who has being running in Dubai and has just returned to Spain).

The participants are:

Albret (IRE, 2009) is a gray colt [Clodovil-Piccelina(Piccolo)], oned by Cuadra Quinto Real, trained by G. Arizcotrreta, ridden by V. Janacek.. He won the Criterium Internacional in the summer in San Sebastián, beating Celtic Rock

Makalali (IRE, 2009), is a bay colt [Kodiac-Hawateef(Mujtahid)], owned by Cuadra Martel Sánchez, trained by O. Anaya, ridden by I. López. He has won in Dos Hermanas and Mijas this winter.

Nuredyn (FR, 2009) is a bay colt [Dyhim Diamond-Nurenieva(Enrique)], owned by Cuadra Zurraquin, trained by M. Hernández, ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina. He was second to Matusalén in the Gran Criterium in his last start.

Nuredyn (Dyhim Diamond) with Oscar Ortiz de Urbina. Photo courtesy of turfarganda.blogspot.com

Celtic Rock (GB, 2009) is a ch. colt [Rock of Gibraltar-Luna Céltica(Celtic Swing)], owned by Cuadra Habit, trained by J. C. Fernández, ridden by J. L. Martínez. 2nd to Albret in the Criterium Internacional, 5th in the Gran Critérium

Plenipotenciario (IRE, 2009), is a bay colt [Caradak-Pliaurea(Poliglote)], owned by Cuadra Ussía-Hinojosa, traned by J. L. de Salas, ridden by J. Crocquevieille. He won in his debut, beating Saphirside and was third in the Gran Criterim, his second and last start to date

Saphirside (IRE, 2009), is a bay colt [Elusive City-Silirisa(Sillery)], owned by Cuadra Safsaf, trained by M. Delcher, ridden by J. Grosjean. 2nd to Plenipotenciario, won his next start and was 7th in the Gran Criterium

Saphirside (Elusive City) with J. Grosjean. Photo courtesy of turfarganda.blogspot.com

The winners of the Torre Arias in the last years were: Volcánico (2011), Bombadil (2010), As de Trébol (2009), Yepes (2008), Buxo (2007) and Bolas Nuevas (2006)


The rest of the meeting includes a 1,800 m race for maiden 3yo fillies, a 1,800 m race for maiden 3yo colts, a 2,200 m handicap split in two races and a 2,000 m race for 3yo, with 7 participantes, 4 of them already winners.

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).

Assorted news: Silverside, Ryan Moore, Pazifiksturm, Jacira

Silverside (USA, 2006), who won the Golden Peitsche (Gr. 2) some weeks ago, was last in the Qipco British Champion Sprint Stakes (Gr. 2) at Ascot last Saturday. The winner was Deacon Blues
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Ryan Moore will ride Plenipotenciario (IRE, 2009) [Caradak-Poliaurea], owned by Cuadra Ussía-Hinojosa and trained by J. L. Salas in the Gran Critérium (1,600 m, 2 yo), to be run this next Sunday in the La Zarzuela racetrack. Plenipotenciario has won his only start.

Pazifiksturm (Samum), owned by Cuadra Martul and trained by Ana Imaz, was second in his last start, an E race over 2,500 m for 4 yo+.

The yearling filly by Arch and Jacira presented in the Arqana sales realized 65,000 euros

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).