Touch Of Destiny Arrives in the U.S. as Uruguay's Hope for the Breeders' Cup

In 2025, Uruguay officially joins the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, marking a milestone for the nation's growing presence in international racing. Leading the charge is Touch Of Destiny, a remarkable two-year-old colt who secured his place in the 2025 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar, California, by defeating older horses over a mile at Maroñas Racecourse. His achievement not only highlights his talent but also symbolizes a new era for Uruguayan racing.

Touch Of Destiny (Midshipman) winning the “Win and You’re In” Asociacion Uruguaya de Propietarios de Caballos de Carrera (G3) against older rivals.

Touch Of Destiny (Midshipman) is widely considered the finest horse to compete on the dirt track of Uruguay's premier racing venue, the Hipódromo Nacional de Maroñas. The undefeated colt arrived in Miami, Florida, on July 14, ahead of his expected start in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar. According to reports, Touch Of Destiny will remain in Miami for a few days before shipping to California, where he will train directly at Del Mar. Notably, he will not run a prep race in the United States before the Breeders’ Cup. The colt will continue to be trained by Raimundo Soares, and Luis Cáceres, who guided him to all six of his wins, is set to retain the mount. 

His emergence is the result of strategic planning and significant investment by Haras Phillipson, a breeding and racing operation owned by Brazilian industrialist Benjamin Steinbruch and his son Felipe. Since establishing a base in Uruguay, the Steinbruchs have pursued a vision of excellence, developing a world-class breeding operation that spans Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.

Haras Phillipson has been breeding in Uruguay since 2005, from the birth of its “C” generation, being 8 births of this first litter. Among the first notable foals was Capricho Bravo (Lasting Approval), a colt out of Olilly (Figurón), a mare whose influence would later prove significant. In addition to importing mares in foal to top stallions from Brazil and Argentina, their first major investment in Uruguay could be considered the shuttling of the millionaire stallion Fusaichi Pegasus (Mr. Prospector) in 2014. He covered 50 broodmares at the farm, and 41 of them produced foals. However, his progeny did not meet expectations—of the 41 foals born, only 14 (34.2%) went on to win races at Maroñas, and none became Black Type winners. Since his offspring began racing in 2018, Fusaichi Pegasus (Mr. Prospector) has never ranked among the Top 20 Leading Sires at Maroñas. Given the scale of the investment for Uruguay’s racing industry, it could be considered an “unsuccessful” venture.

The stallion shuttle strategy continued, albeit with mixed results. Brilliant Speed (Dynaformer) stood in 2015 with limited success. The tide turned in 2020 when Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song) was introduced and produced some black-type winners. Then in 2021, Midshipman (Unbridled's Song) joined the roster, and his impact was immediate. He sired Touch Of Destiny, along with other top performers like Turbo Ship, winner of the Criterium, and Tadow Star, a consistent runner-up to his stablemate. This crop, now officially three years old as of July 1st (due to Southern Hemisphere regulations), is poised to contest Uruguay's Triple Crown.

With Touch Of Destiny now preparing for his U.S. campaign, the leadership among Uruguay's three-year-olds has shifted to Turbo Ship. The first leg of the Triple Crown is scheduled for September 7th at Maroñas, where the new generation of stars will be put to the test. These races will determine who can carry the torch forward, now that their brightest star is taking on international competition.

The success of Haras Phillipson lies not just in its financial commitment but in its breeding philosophy. The operation was built on a foundation of stamina and durability, starting with the British-bred Arizelos (Shirley Heights), a winner over extended distances. A recurring theme in their breeding is the inbreeding to Caro (Fortino), which is achieved through the use of stallions like T. H. Approval (With Approval), a grandson of Caro, and sires like Midshipman and Will Take Charge, who descend from Trolley Song (Caro). These pairings often result in a 4Sx4D inbreeding to Caro, reinforcing desired traits in the offspring.

Phillipson’s success also stems from its self-contained model. The farm retains nearly all its foals to race under its signature yellow silks with a red stripe. Few fillies are sold, and even fewer mares from external sources are added to the broodmare band. This consistency ensures that the operation maintains control over its bloodlines and long-term breeding goals.

The roots of Touch Of Destiny's female line date back to 1988, when Benjamin Steinbruch purchased a filly named Dynastie (Michelet) from Haras Abolengo in Argentina. After a brief but successful racing career in Brazil, Dynastie became the cornerstone of a lasting maternal line. Through her daughters Olilly and Zécarolina, this family has produced numerous winners, including Il Doge (Cape Town), a champion two-year-old in São Paulo, and Holanda Yo (T. H. Approval), dam of Touch Of Destiny.

Touch Of Destiny represents the culmination of decades of strategic breeding, unwavering investment, and visionary leadership. Under Benjamin Steinbruch’s guidance, Haras Phillipson has become a powerhouse in South American racing, with operations rooted in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Now, with Touch Of Destiny on the world stage, Uruguay's racing hopes are riding on a colt bred for greatness and prepared to face the best in the world.

Family of Dynastie

• DYNASTIE

  • Olilly (Figuron)

    • Vicks Barrigas (Kenetico)

      • Clueless

        • Il Dodge (Cape Town)

    • Ana Baba (Alpha Plus)

      • Leca Maleca (T. H. Approval)

    • Yoililly (Quinze Quilates)

      • Holanda Yo (T. H. Approval)

        • Touch Of Destiny (Midshipman)

  • Zécarolina (Yagli)

    • Eclipse Total (Quinze Quilates)

      • Onthefield (T. H. Approval)