Azafata won the Villamejor

[Slightly updated news, but written for the record]

Azafata (SPA, 2009) bay filly [Motivator-Anysheba(Alysheba)]. owned by Cuadra Chamartín, trained by J. López and ridden by Jorge Horcajada, won the Premio Villamejor (Spanish St. Leger, 2,800 m, 3yos, 20,000 euros for the winner), at the La Zarzuela racetrack Sunday 18 Nov, beating Ranyan (SPA, 2009), ch. gelding [Gold Away-Triple Two(Pivotal)], owned by Cuadra Agrado, trained by Teo Callejo and ridden by F. Jiménez by 4 lengths, with Teobaldo (Singspiel) third and Avante (Shamardal) fourth
Here is the race: Premio Villamejor 2012


Another highlight of the meeting was the Premio Gladiateur (4,000 m, 4yo+,. 10,000 euros for the winner). And the winner was Achtung (SPA, 2008), a bay colt [Sulamani-Aurea(Silvano)], owned by Cuadra Enalto, trained by Roberto López and ridden by Vaclav Janacek., beating Domeside (Domedriver) and Entre Copas (Sakhee). Achtung won the Premio Villamejor last year.

Video: Premio Gladiateur 2012

 In the rest of the meeting , the winners were:

Minolto (Barathea) in the 1,400 m race for 2yos

Laura Moon (Russian Blue) in the 1,000 m race for 3yo+-

Blantor (Clodovil) in the 1,600 m split handicap (2nd part A), Callside (Pyrus) in the 2nd Part B and Don Fernando Hab (Intikhab) in the 1st part.

This was the last meeting of the La Zarzuela autumn season. Racing now continues in the Dos Hermanas (Seville) racetrack.

Cielo Canarias won the GP Hispanidad

Cielo Canarias (IRE, 2008), a bay gelding [Exceed and Excel-Summer Dance(Saddler's Wells)], owned by Cuadra Grupo Bolaños, trained by E. León and ridden by J. L. Martínez won last Friday at the La Zarzuela racetrack the GP Hispanidad (1,600 m, 3yo+, weight for age, 24,000 euros for the winner), beating easily Weststow (Medicean) by four lengths, with Jakemate (Denver County) and Mil Azul (Russian Blue) close third and fourth.

This fourth consecutive win of Cielo Canarias means he has won two of the top miles of the year (Gobierno Vasco and GP Hispanidad), which makes him the best miler in Spain.

Cielo Canarias winning the GP Hispanidad 2012. Photo courtesy of www.gacetahipodromo.com

 Here is the video (including footage of the previous edition, won by Abdel): GP Hispanidad 2012

The favourite Ariete Arrollador didn't have a good travel and Silverside finished last in his reappearance after one year without racing.


Other winners of the Friday meeting were:

Labros (Dyhim Diamond) in the 1,400 m race for Spanish bred 2yos

Don Hernando Hab (Delfos) in the 1,800 m claiming race for amateur jockeys

Monte (Singspiel) in the 2,000 m race for maiden 3yo and

Teobaldo (Singspiel) in the 2,800 m  handicap

Abdel won the Memorial Duque de Alburquerque

The 2nd running of the GP Memorial Duque de Alburquerque (2,100 m, 4yo+, 17,400 euros for the winner), was won by Abdel (FR, 2008), [Dyhim Diamond-Leonor de Guzmán(Glauco)],  the bay colt owned and trained by J. M. Osorio, the current Duque de Alburquerque. Abdel was ridden by J. E. Jarcovsky, who had him in the second position after the frontrunner Nelson Groom (Charming Groom) for most of the race. Abdel found himself boxed in the home stretch when Plantagenet attacked Nelson Groom and Jarcovsky had a difficult time finding the way out, although, once in the clear, Abdel showed a remarkable turn of foot to surpasse Nelson Groom by a length, with Arnuero (Sakhee) third and Plantagenet fourth.

This is the 6th win in 10 starts for Abdel, who has performed at the highest level in 1,400 m (Antonio Blasco), 1,600 GP Hispanidad), 2,400 m (Copa de Oro) and now 2,100 m.

Abdel (Dyhim Diamond) and Jarcovksy, winners of the GP Memorial Duque de Alburquerque. Photo courtesy of http://turfarganda.blogspot.com

Here is the video (including parts of the 2011 edition): GP Memorial Duque de Alburquerque 2011

In the rest of the meeting:
Teobaldo (Singspiel) won the 2,100 m race for maiden 3yo, with Biladi (Authorized) second.

Cañadio (Dyhim Diamond) won the first part of the 1,600 m split handicap, with Viva A Franca (Storm Cat) 2nd

In the 1,600 m race for amateur jockes, the winner was Cielo Canarias (Exceed adn Excel), with Muñeca Brava (Noverre) second.

In the 2,100 m race for maiden 3yo fillies, the winner was the half sister to Faramir (GP Ciudad de Madrid), Sportside (Refuse to Bend), with Azafata (Motivator) 2nd. Here is the video: Premio Loterías y Apuestas del Estado

And in the 2nd half of the split handicap,. Dyhim Diamond made a treble as a sire with Diamante Blanco

Dyhim Diamond sired a total of 5 winners out of 11 races in the weekend