Argentine standout Hi Happy (Arg) (Pure Prize), kept his unbeaten record intact and clearly stamped himself as South America's leading 3-year-old colt and Argentina's Horse of the Year as he closed out the season with a bang in winning the continent's most prestigious race, the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini on Saturday at San Isidro.
Confidently ridden and allowed to settled in midpack through the final turn by regular pilot Altair Domingos, the Pure Prize colt blew by the inherit leader Es Despues (Arg) and burst away in midstretch to a commanding lead to score by 1 ½ lengths. The win represented the fourth Group 1 victory of the season for the Haras La Providencia homebred after earlier scores in the Clasico Dos Mil Guineas and Argentine Classics, Gran Premio Jockey Club and Gran Premio Nacional, all at the highest level.
“He is one very good colt,” said jockey Altair Domingos, who dedicated his most celebrated victory to the late Haras La Providencia trainer Jose Martins Alves.
With the win in South America's richest race, the undefeated South American champ earned also an exclusive berth to possibly participate in the famous G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot next season. The 1 1/2-mile turf race is a Breeders' Cup qualifying race for the 2016 G1 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf.
Saturday, San Isidro, Argentina
GRAN PREMIO CARLOS PELLEGRINI-G1, AR$3,400,000, 12-12,
San Isidro, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:24.37, fm.
1–HI HAPPY (ARG), 119, c, 3, by Pure Prize
1st Dam: Historia (Arg), by French Deputy
2nd Dam: Honoris Causa (Arg), by Miswaki
3rd Dam: Islands, by Forli (Arg)
O/B-Haras La Providencia (Arg); T-Perdro Nickel Filho; J-Altair
Domingos. Lifetime Record: 6-6-0-0. *Full to Hinz (Arg), G1SW-
Chi, $129,909. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Don Inc (Arg), 119, c, 3, Include–Stormy Dove (Arg), by
Bernstein. O-Stud Las Monjitas; B-Haras La Biznaga (Arg);
T-Carlos D Etchechoury.
3–Es Despues (Arg), 132, c, 4, Espaciado (Arg)–After She (Arg),
by Sonus (Ire); O-Stud Eldorado; B-Haras Vadarkblar (Arg);
T-Jose Luis Palacios.
Margins: 1HF, 6, 3/4. Odds: 2.45, 23.35, 8.85.
Also Ran: Must Go On (Arg), Champion Star (Brz), Quiz Kid (Arg), Keane (Arg), Oregon (Arg), Old Bunch (Arg), Ordak Dan (Arg), Extra Quiz (Arg), Braco Forte (Brz), Alma de Acero (Arg), Giant Killing (Arg), Maremoto Inc (Arg), Interbanking (Arg), Enzo Stripes (Arg), Spiritus (Arg), Pitbull (Arg), Giacom (Arg).
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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