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

Jo All the Way wins the Copa de Oro Donostia (San Sebastián) 2011

Jo All the Way, (Gold away-Secret Question) the French raider owned by Gerard Agustin Normand, ridden by P Sogorb, and trained by Eli Lellouche for won the Copa de Oro Donostia 2011, by three lengths, with Abdel (SPA, 2008) [Dyhim Diamond-Leonor de Guzmán(Glauco)] second and Festeiro (SPA, 2008) [Fol Parade-New Vert(Vert Amande)] a close third. Young Tiger (FR, 2001) was fourth.

The race was led by Pazifiksturm (GER, 2007) (Samum), second in the 2010 edition, with Domeside (GB, 2006) (Domedriver) following him and Señor Miranda (GB, 2007) (Fantastic Light) third. In the far straight, Pazifiksturm was led to the outer part of the track (following the same strategy as last year, like his stable mate Dunnboinee, who was in the rear part of the field. However, this time, Domeside took the lead and, with a strong pace, put some distance and Pazifiksturm couldn't regain his position. Domeside (for blinkers for the first time) entered the home stretch first, but Abdel and (along the rail) Jo All the Way surpassed him, with Young Tiger behind them. Jo All the Way was clearly the best, and Abdel seemed a clear second until Festeiro, although disturbed by Young Tiger in his late charge, closed strongly and almost surpassed Abdel in the finish line.

Jo All the Way is three times Listed placed in France and had an official French rating of 47 before the race.

Both Abdel and Festeiro come from families related to the Copa de Oro, since the dam of Abdel is half sister to Ceremonioso (2nd in the 1996 edition) and Newango, half brother to Festeiro was second in 2007 and third in 2008.

Here is the race: Copa de Oro Donostia 2011

Young Tiger (FR) wins again

Young Tiger (FR), the 10 y/o bay gelding by Tiger Hill-Youngolina (Trempolino), owned by Javier Gispert and trained by F. Rohaut, keeps winning at his 10 years. He won last saturday 26th the listed race Grand Prix Du Conseil General Des Alpes Maritimes (2,500m), first race of the Defi du Galop 2011, for 4 y/o+ in Cagnes sur Mer. He was ridden by Francois-Xavier Bertras. Young Tiger is the current holder of the Defi du Galop (for the second time).

Young Tiger in Madrid. Photo courtesy of cortacabeza.wordpress.com

Young Tiger has now 36 starts, with 21 wins and 15 placings. Although he has run mostly in France, winning a number of listed races, including the 2004 Prix La Force (Gr. 3), he is well known in Spain since he won, back in the autumn of 2005, the Gran Premio Reapertura (2,000 m), the Gran Premio Hispanidad (1,600 m) and the Gran Premio Memorial Duque de Toledo (2,400 m), leaving a long lasting impression. He has been in Spain three more times, winning the Memorial Duque de Toledo for the second time in 2007, the Copa de Oro de San Sebastián in 2009 and being third in the 2010 Gran Premio Ciudad de Madrid.

This is his last race:
Grand Prix Du Conseil General Des Alpes Maritimes, 2011