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).

Premio Benítez de Lugo (2,200 3yo+ fillies) this Sunday in Madrid

Racing returns to Madrid after the summer season, and the first big race is the traditional Premio Ricardo Ruiz Benítez de Lugo, a 2,200 m race for 3 yo+ fillies, with a purse of 21,000 euros for the winner.

The race this year seems like an almost exact reedition of the recent Premio Kutxa, won by Casaca in San Sebastián.

Partants are:

Casaca (GB, 2006) chestnut filly, [Medicean-Priena(Priolo)], owned by Cuadra África, trained by J. M. Osorio, ridden by J. Crocquevieille. Half to Entre Copas, has 14 starts, 4 wins, 5 placings and 73,463 euros.

Lisselan Beauty (USA, 2006), a bay filly [Black Mambo-Like to Shimmy], owned by Lisselan Farms Ltd., trained by A. R. Acosta, ridden by A. R. Acosta

Monyaar (FR, 2007), bay filly [Montjeu-Iktheyaar], owned by Cuadra Ussía-Figueroa, trained by G. Arizcorreta, ridden by M. Secci

Narya (IRE, 2007), bay filly [Halling-Badraan], owned by Cuadra Miranda, trained by M. Delcher S., ridden by J. Horcajada. Winner of the Beamonte in 2010, has been beaten repeatedly by Casaca this year.

Relámpago (GB, 2007) [Observatory-River City Moon], owned by Cuadra Tres y Medio, trained by B. Valenti, ridden by J. L. Martínez

Tasha Linda (IRE, 2007) [Where or When-Triple Two], owned by Cuadra Paganini, trained by T. Callejo, ridden by Oscar Ortiz de Urbina

Clunia (IRE, 2008) [Silent Times-Doohulla], owned by Cuadra Brazacorta, trained by G. Villarta, ridden by Borja Fayos. Winner of the Beamonte (Oaks) and best 2yo filly in 2010. Second to Casaca in the Premio Kutxa.

Manivela (SPA, 2008) [Baptize-Cayena], owned by Cuadra Fantasia, trained by T. Callejo, ridden by J. C. Cerqueira. Won the Premio Comunidad de Madrid back in May.

Tafadhali (SPA, 2008) [Dyhim Diamond-Laida], owned by Cuadra Lajorquín, trained by J. López, ridden by J. Grosjean.

Recent winners of the Benitez de Lugo were: Para Elisa (2010), Fresneda (2009), Synergy (2008), Jade (2007) and Afriketa.

A filly by Zamindar tops the Milagro yearling sale 2011

A bay filly by Zamindar and the Gr. 3 winner Kentucky Kaper (The Prime Minister9 was the highest price of the Dehesa de Milagro yearling sale 2011, held in Milagro, Navarra, last Saturday 10 of September. She was sold by 43,000 euros to trainer Francisco Rodríguez for Los Toneles stable.

Both next highest prices, 34,000 euros each, were paid by trainer Guillermo Arizkorreta acting for Cuadra Ussía Figueroa. One of them is a gray colt by Halling and Private Dancer and the other one is a bay colt by Sakhee and Abril (winner of the Premio Kutxa).

A bay filly also by Sakhee and Levantina was sold to B. H. Bloodstock in 26,000 euros. The half brother to Spanish Guineas winner Ariete arrollador, a bay colt by Caradak and Proud Douna realized 27,000 euros paid by Stamina agency. And the half sister to Clunia (best 2yo filly of 2010 and Spanish Oaks winner) went for 32,000 euros to trainer Francisco Rodríguez for cuadra Safsaf.

There was a highest bid of 16,000 euros for the half brother to Vagabond Shoes and also 30,000 euros offered for the first product of Ensis, but neither reached the reserve price.

In total, there were 93 catalogued products, 22 withdrawn (some might be presented in Madrid in October), 20 with no bids, 9 didn't make the reserve price and 42 sold, with a total volume of the sale of 662,000 euros.

Source: La subasta de Milagro superó las expectativas

Complete results in PDF: Subasta Milagro 2011

Also: Vendimia en Milagro

Luis Maroto died

Former trainer Luis Maroto, one of the leading trainers of the Spanish turf in the second half of last century, and father of the also trainer J. L. Maroto died yesterday at 82 years of age.

Luis Maroto was leading trainer in 1983 and 1985 and second some other years and saddled a good number of winners of the Spanish classic races, like Koku and Orbital, winners of the Cimera (2,000 guineas) in 1972 and 1985, Herves, winner of the Valderas (1,000 guineas) in 1969, Zambia, winner of the Beamonte-Oaks in 1983, Pearl Island, winner of the Beamonte in 1986, Arameo, winner of the Spanish Derby in 1984.

Other great runners trained by Luis Maroto were Raiponce, Colorines, Coloso and Lorgot

His son Juan Luis Maroto resumed his training career in 2006 and is the trainer of Karluv Most, winner of the GP Ciudad de Madrid and the Memorial Duque de Toledo.

More info: Adios Luis with a photo of Luis Maroto with Claudio Carudel and photos with the gray Colorines and the black Coloso.

Also: Falleció Luis Maroto

Bellaside (IRE) wins the Premio Pietro Bessero (Listed) in Milan

Bellaside, (IRE) [La Vie dei Colori-Brockton Saga] the 4 yo bay filly owned by Cuadra Grupo Bolaños Gran Canaria and trained by Enrique León, ridden by Fabio Branca, won this Sunday by a neck the Premio Pietro Bessero (Listed race) a 1,600 m race at the Milan racetrack. Although Bellaside has run in a come-from-behind style in Spain, she took the lead from the start and held off a late attack.

Bellaside was second to Silverside in the 2010 edition of the GP de la Hispanidad and was also second to Volcánico in the recent Premio Gobierno Vasco, the most important mile race in the San Sebastian season. She won the Premio Covarrubias this spring in Madrid.

Here is the race: Premio Pietro Bessero 2011

Entre Copas wins the GP de San Sebastián

In his fifth win in five starts this year, Entre Copas (GB, 2004) [Sakhee-Priena(Priolo) won this Sunday the GP de San Sebastián, a 2,800 m race for 3 y/o in the closing meeting of the San Sebastián season this year.

Entre Copas is owned by his breeders, Cuadra Africa and trained by J.M. Osorio and was ridden by J. Crocquevieille.

Cape Point, the only 3 yo in the race, was second.

Here is the race: GP de San Sebastián 2011

Aspasia de Mileto, second in the Listed Prix Liancourt, Longchamp

Aspasia de Mileto (GB, 2008) [Hurricane Run-Fabulous Speed], owned by the Duque de Alburquerque, trained by Carlos Laffon and ridden by Olivier Peslier, was second today in the Prix Liancourt (Listed race, 2,100 m 3 yo fillies) in Longchamp, beaten by a head by the favourite Adventure Seeker (ridden by Christophe Soumillon) Aspasia de Mileto was fifth in her previous start, also a Listed race in Longchamp. In Spain, she won the Premio Valderas (1,000 Guineas) and was third in the Spanish Derby in her last start before going to France. Here is the race: Prix Liancourt 2011