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The Criadores Nacionales Stakes (G3) at Maroñas is usually the first major barometer for Uruguay’s classic crop, where colts who did not contest the Polla de Potrillos face off for a possible berth in the Jockey Club (G3), the second jewel of the Uruguayan Triple Crown. However, the 2025 edition became more than that, it was the stage for a dazzling arrival. Obastacle (Hofburg), a Brazilian-bred colt from Santa María de Araras, Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, trained by Ivo Valter “Coco” Pereira for the colors of Mr. Ricardo Felizzola’s Stud Duplo Ouro, stepped onto the Montevideo dirt without a prior route race and smashed the clock. Obstacle (Hofburg) cruising swiftly in the final yards. He had debuted third, with some trouble caused by immaturity and inexperience, in February in the ABCPCC Copa Precocidad y Velocidad trial over 1,000 meters, and in March finished sixth in the final while closing late, which was his last start. After a six-month break, he reappeared in a select group to make the extraordinary leap from 1,000 to 1,800 meters. Far from showing inexperience, the son of Hofburg (Tapit) broke sharply, absorbed a bump when the gates opened, and set off after the favorite Namaguederaz (Algorithms). Down the backstretch he took command and began to open up around the turn. Three hundred meters from home his lead was seven and a half lengths and, despite the trip, he never stopped running. He stopped the clock in 1:46.18, pulverizing the record of 1:46.50 held by Potri Flash since 2006, improving the previous mark by 32 hundredths. He put 7 ½ lengths on runner-up Ultimate Best (Synchrony), completing a 1–2 for Tapit sons, and left the heavy favorite Namaguederaz third, tired after attempting to follow the winner. Beyond the final time, his fractions put the magnitude of the feat into context. After being bumped at the start, Felizzola’s chestnut, prepared by Ivo Pereira’s team, settled and went 400 meters in a blistering 21.96, then 800 in 44.42, and covered 1,200 in 1:07.84, ten hundredths faster than Gran Taffeta’s (Gran Normand) record for that distance, with 600 meters still to run. At 1,600, his split was 1:33.30, just three hundredths off the record of Brujo de Olleros (Wild Event), set by the same Brazilian trainer–jockey duo. The key was his finish: he ran the last furlong in 12.88, making it clear he still had something left at the wire. For his jockey Everton Rodrigues it was a perfect ride; for his foreman Pablo Duarte, a dream debut. With only three lifetime starts, Obastacle has already become one of the fastest horses in Maroñas history. Obastacle’s genetic profile helps explain why his rapid rise should not be considered a fluke. He is by Hofburg, a chestnut son of multiple U.S. champion Tapit (Pulpit) out of Soothing Touch, by Touch Gold (Deputy Minister). Hofburg was a notable performer in the United States—second in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and third in the Florida Derby (G1). He also belongs to the {2-d} family of Coup de Folie (Halo), which includes figures like Machiavellian and Coup de Genie, all descending from the matriarch Natalma (Native Dancer), dam of Northern Dancer (Nearctic). This female branch, famous for its racing ability, brings stamina and consistency. The decision by Julio Bozano, owner of Haras Santa María de Araras, to bring Hofburg to his stallion roster in Brazil is proving right: from his first crop he has sired Vitruvian, a G1 winner at Gávea; G3 winner and Dubai export Nam Phrik; multiple G1-placed Niver Ball; stakes winner New Future; and the talented No Bien Ni Mal, who turned in two good races at Maroñas before winning at Saratoga. The trend indicates Hofburg’s progeny perform especially well on dirt, as proven by No Bien Ni Mal, Nam Phrik, New Future, the current-crop colt Óbvio, and now Obastacle. That said, they remain competitive on turf, as shown by Vitruvian, Niver Ball, Navy Of War, Osten, and Non Costa Caro at Maroñas. Obstacle’s pedigree shows a Genetic Strength Value (GSV) of 70.29, a quantitative indicator developed by French researcher François Bouquet to measure genetic power based on the density of chefs-de-race within the first five generations. A GSV around 70 implies above-average stamina. The genetic key lies in his third dam, Ex Facto by Known Fact (In Reality) and Premier Princess by Exclusive Native (Raise A Native). This U.S. mare, purchased for U$S 37,000 at the 1991 Keeneland Sales, won 2 of 13 starts and earned U$S 42,600 on the track, but her true value emerged in production. Ex Facto belongs to the {8-h} family and is by Known Fact, a Juddmonte-owned European champion miler, her dam Premier Princess is by champion Exclusive Native, sire of Triple Crown winner Affirmed. Come And See, Obstacle’s dam, is by Elusive Quality (Gone West), a Darley/Godolphin stallion who shuttled to Brazil in 2009 and 2010, one of those investments that enriched Brazilian breeding. This mare has an interesting Rasmussen Factor of 4Sx4D to the reine-de-course Tamerett (Tim Tam). Descending from her are Tentam (Intentionally), Gone West (Mr. Prospector), Shackleford (Forestry), Clarity Sky (Kurofune), Lady Joanne (Orientate), and Tappiano (Fappiano). Ex Facto’s influence has multiplied in South America. She is the third dam of the newly crowned champion Ethereum (Courtier), owned by Mr. Carlos Dos Santos and trained by Cosminho Morgado Neto, who shone at three, was named Brazil’s 2024/25 “Horse of the Year,” and is being aimed at the upcoming Gran Premio Latinoamericano as one of the favorites. She is also the third dam of Nudini (Drosselmeyer), winner of the Rio de Janeiro Derby, the final leg of the 2024/25 Carioca Triple Crown. Her presence in pedigrees is significant beyond Latin America as well: Redifined (More Than Ready), purchased for U$S 450,000 at Fasig-Tipton in July 2023, is multiple stakes-placed in the U.S. Looking at her produce as a second dam, you find champion juveniles in Brazil and Uruguay: Parfum Parfait (Clackson), Cruiseliner (Wild Event), Alto Voltage (Ecclesiastic), the sprinter Aspiración (Wild Event), and many other stakes winners. The constant is her ability to produce not only precocity but also horses who progress at three and four years, something remarkable. In Obastacle, Ex Facto connects to Hofburg through complementary crossing patterns: Tapit’s line, with its inbreeding to A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew), contributes high aerobic capacity, while the Known Fact line, descending from In Reality, adds the speed of a champion miler. The result is Obstacle, a colt with a perfect balance of early speed and finishing power. Obastacle’s Maroñas debut over 1,800 meters not only earned him a record that had stood nearly 20 years; it also confirmed he is ready for bigger challenges. Owner Ricardo Felizzola, together with trainer Ivo Pereira, his son Leandro, and Pablo Duarte, plan to target the remaining two legs of the Uruguayan Triple Crown for three-year-olds, then aim for the Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez (G1) on January 6, and, if he continues to respond, ship him to the United States to follow in the footsteps of No Bien Ni Mal, another Hofburg son who recently won an allowance on his North American debut during the Saratoga (SPA) meeting. The progression is logical: the Uruguayan Triple Crown tends to forge tough, versatile colts, and the Ramírez, at 2,400 meters, offers an especially attractive purse. His performance in the Criadores Nacionales (G3) shows the transition is feasible; unlike many stayers who post moderate splits, he forced a fast pace and still finished his final 200 meters in 12.88, a sign he retains energy. It suggests the extra 200 meters of the Jockey Club (G3), to be run on October 5, should not pose a problem. The “Toro” Rodrigues–Ivo Pereira duo once again found success. / Fotografías Santiago Success cannot be understood without looking at the surrounding team. Trainer Ivo Valter “Coco” Pereira was the undisputed leader of the Maroñas standings for several years. After a dip in stock, he is now in excellent form in a very competitive environment at Maroñas, reasserting himself as one of the best trainers. Ivo has handled outstanding horses; among his pupils is the record-setter Brujo de Olleros (Wild Event), whose 1,600-meter mark Obastacle nearly matched in passing. The choice of jockey Everton Rodrigues, a rider experienced on deep sands with a fine touch at the finish, was also decisive: he controlled the colt’s eagerness, didn’t panic after the break’s bump, and let him flow at his rhythm. Foreman Pablo Duarte handled the fine-tuning and, according to post-race comments, the colt had worked very well in private, yet the manner of victory still surprised him. Haras Santa María de Araras, which breeds over 100 foals annually in Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, provides the genetics and veterinary support that allow the stable to dream of an export project. From a commercial genetics perspective, the Duplo Ouro runner’s victory reinforces the value of Hofburg’s service in the South American market. As with all Santa María de Araras stallions, fees are not among the cheapest in South America, but paying between U$S 7,000 and 8,000 for the service is worthwhile—the effectiveness justifies the investment. His pedigree shows how fertile that combination can be when paired with a powerful female line like Ex Facto’s. Obastacle not only broke a nearly two-decade-old record at Maroñas; he opened an exciting chapter in Uruguay’s classic season and continues to build the bridge between Montevideo’s dirt and U.S. tracks—already crossed by No Bien Ni Mal and pursued by Suablenanv T. H. (T. H. Approval), Devassa (Alcorano), and Dale Flojita (Sloane Avenue), with Touch Of Destiny (Midshipman) aiming for the Breeders’ Cup. Obstacle’s triumph shows what happens when an emerging stallion like Hofburg, a powerful female family like Ex Facto’s, and a team of professionals who know how to prepare horses come together. Looking ahead, Obastacle will have to prove his record was no isolated flash; the Uruguayan Triple Crown and the Ramírez will be his stamina exams. But in light of what he showed, blistering fractions, a strong finish, and unusual consistency for a horse making just his second start, it’s reasonable to think the Duplo Ouro colt is more than a passing phenomenon. Managed patiently, he could become the new “running machine” Uruguay has been waiting for and, by extension, another ambassador of Brazilian breeding in the North.

On the afternoon of Saturday, September 13 at Churchill Downs, two unmistakable signs were left for breeding programs: the road to the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks began under the long shadow of Candy Ride  (Ride The Rails). His paternal grandsons, Spice Runner  (Gun Runner) in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) and Taken by the Wind  (Rock Your World) in the Pocahontas Stakes (G3), won with different arguments but with a common denominator: a genetic framework showing unmatched biomechanical efficiency, once again validating the Argentine stallion’s dynasty in the United States, the most competitive industry in the sport. Far from being a coincidence, the double reconnects a thread that binds generations: Candy Ride , his sons, and now his sons’ sons, who today define much of the excellence standard for producing milers with great speed and just enough stamina to sustain a strong pace, the ideal profile to win these types of two-year-old races. Moreover, it confirmed the effectiveness of the Candy Ride – Storm Cat  nick. Spice Runner (Gun Runner) winning in the last stride in the Iroquois (G3). The Iroquois Stakes (G3), the first link in the Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying calendar, set up an early tactical clock battle. With fractions of 22.69 and 46.06 for the opening quarter and half-mile, Comport  (Collected), ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, tried to wire the field and looked dangerous passing six furlongs in 1:10.83. But the Churchill Downs mile rarely forgives poor energy management. Breaking from post five, Spice Runner , ridden by Jose Ortiz Jr. and trained by Steven Asmussen for Ron Winchell, already made famous by his sire, Gun Runner  (Candy Ride), sat relaxed off the pace, switched leads at the top of the stretch on Ortiz’s cue, and with a devastating turn of foot, ground down the frontrunner to get up in the final stride. The final time of 1:36.59 for the mile earned him the first 10 qualifying points toward the Derby, and more importantly, confirmed his image as a “work in progress” colt with genuine upside. Even with some self-inflicted greenness in the stretch, once straightened he showed a long stride and the impression of a serious colt who knows what’s being asked of him. His team admitted as much afterward: still mentally immature, but with an engine that responds the more it’s pressed. The Iroquois Stakes (G3), the first link in the Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying calendar, set up an early tactical clock battle. With fractions of 22.69 and 46.06 for the opening quarter and half-mile, Comport  (Collected), ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, tried to wire the field and looked dangerous passing six furlongs in 1:10.83. But the Churchill Downs mile rarely forgives poor energy management. Breaking from post five, Spice Runner , ridden by Jose Ortiz Jr. and trained by Steven Asmussen for Ron Winchell, already made famous by his sire, Gun Runner  (Candy Ride), sat relaxed off the pace, switched leads at the top of the stretch on Ortiz’s cue, and with a devastating turn of foot, ground down the frontrunner to get up in the final stride. The final time of 1:36.59 for the mile earned him the first 10 qualifying points toward the Derby, and more importantly, confirmed his image as a “work in progress” colt with genuine upside. Even with some self-inflicted greenness in the stretch, once straightened he showed a long stride and the impression of a serious colt who knows what’s being asked of him. His team admitted as much afterward: still mentally immature, but with an engine that responds the more it’s pressed. Taken by the Wind  (Rock Your World) finished more than five lengths clear of the runner-up. The reasons behind these victories run deep: pedigrees. Spice Runner  is by Gun Runner  and out of a mare by Cowboy Cal  (Giant’s Causeway). That combination creates a 3Sx3D duplication of Giant’s Causeway , since Gun Runner’s dam, Quiet Giant , and Cowboy Cal  both descend from him. Notably, he’s a full brother to Gunite , a Grade 1 winner at seven furlongs as a juvenile who stretched out successfully with age. His female family is also strong: beyond MG1W Gunite , his second dam is a stakes winner, and the family includes the Listed winner Home Bred  (Street Sense) and his G2-winning brother Air Strike  (Street Sense). Taken by the Wind , meanwhile, carries the stamp of Rock Your World , a Candy Ride  who won the Santa Anita Derby (G1). He also adds the genetic mark of Giant’s Causeway  (Storm Cat), though in a different pattern: a 4Sx3D cross, with Rock Your World  bringing him in via the third generation on top, and the filly’s dam, Up for Grabs , introducing him again through First Samurai  (Giant’s Causeway). She also doubles up Fappiano  and Herbager  in the fifth generation. Add in the influence of Empire Maker  (Unbridled) atop Rock Your World , and you get the ingredient needed not just for September wins, but for surviving winter and showing up in May for the Kentucky Oaks. Taken by the Wind  (Rock Your World) in the paddock before the Pocahontas (G3). None of this happens in a vacuum. The double at Churchill comes in a year when Candy Ride’s mark is everywhere. His son Hit Show  won the Dubai World Cup (G1) in March. Gun Runner  keeps producing graded winners. Twirling Candy  maintains elite statistics. Vekoma , from his first crop, advanced strongly among new sires. Rock Your World , with this first stakes winner, steps onto the freshman stage. At Keeneland September, Gun Runner  yearlings lit up buyers with multiple seven-figure prices, including a $3,300,000 topper. Against that backdrop, Saturday at Churchill means more than it seems. Spice Runner , with his 1:36.59 mile and furious late kick, showed the Gun Runner – Cowboy Cal  formula not only repeats but does so with quality. Taken by the Wind , with 1:36.50 and a 5 ¼-length margin, profiled herself as a filly ready for a class hike. Expect to see Spice Runner  in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and Taken by the Wind in the Alcibiades (G1). There’s also a subtler but equally decisive point, the “grandfather’s party” isn’t just a catchy label—it describes intergenerational transmission. Candy Ride  crosses beautifully with A.P. Indy  (Seattle Slew) or Storm Cat  (Storm Bird) lines, especially when reinforced with Giant’s Causeway  at 3x4 or 4x4. That’s why his grandsons with Storm Cat  via Giant’s Causeway  excel. Spice Runner and  Taken by the Wind  are two fresh, visible examples. Candy Ride (Ride The Rails) galloping in his stallion paddock at Lane’s End. As twilight fell at Churchill, beyond two checks and the first 10 points beside each winner’s name, the feeling was that we witnessed the foundations of something bigger. Spice Runner  earned the right to look toward fall with ambition and spring with hope, while Taken by the Wind  obliterated the line between promise and reality with an authoritative performance. For geneticists, the takeaway is clear: duplications to Giant’s Causeway  at middle distances remain gold when planted in Candy Ride’s fertile soil. For breeders and buyers, the message is equally clear, the dynasty of Candy Ride , now in its third generation, continues producing horses who win important races and sustain a strong marketplace.

The simultaneous kickoff of the Triple Crowns in São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Montevideo offered a vivid portrait of South American racing, across three racetracks, two surfaces, six races, and each region’s most talented horses. On Saturday, September 6, Palermo and Cidade Jardim opened their first jewels, while Sunday the 7th was Maroñas’ turn. Success on the track is rarely a standalone occurrence; it’s always the visible result of a sequence of decisions materialized through the daily management of breeding, breaking, pretraining, and training that judges the clock, the winner’s circle photo, and some metal cups. At Lineage Bloodstock , we focus on the main protagonist, the horse. However, here we’ll briefly review other equally essential factors that directly impact the quality of the equine athletes: infrastructure, teams, breeders, and how the human factor should operate to achieve what everyone desires: winning the Polla de Potrillos, Polla de Potrancas, Ipiranga, Barão de Piracicaba, or any Group 1, representing the highest glory for every owner, breeder, or professional. We begin with Argentina, Buenos Aires, where the Polla de Potrillos (G1) took place, one of the most storied races in Latin American racing. It delivered a defining finish for a generation: after long years in the sport, the owner and breeder saw Gardel Pass (Distinctiv Passion) meet a brave Drive Joy (Fortify), who competed while injured, which was later detected post-race. The two duked it out in a relentless head-to-head from the final 2 furlongs to the wire. The difference was a neck, the leader had run the first 4 furlongs in 46.72, a lively pace for Palermo’s mile, and the winner finished in 1:34.46 for the mile. That combination of a fast early pace and a solid final time shows it was a true test of character. When the initial fractions are that quick, the late stage isn’t won with raw speed but with the ability to convert it into extension and sustain action when mental and physiological demands wear most others down. Gardel Pass’s merit lies in enduring that mile-specific test, a distance that punishes sprinters who don’t stretch and stayers who get caught out in early speed. Meanwhile, Drive Joy’s merit lies in showing grit while limited, putting in context the competitive level of the generation. For Gardel Pass , the win opens two sporting paths and one symbolic path. The symbolic one is immediate, the first Polla de Potrillos for his team, the duo of Wálter Suárez and María Fernanda Álvarez, a milestone that strengthens confidence and project in this trainer pair based at Palermo, Buenos Aires, with about 60 horses in the city at present. The sporting alternatives entail strategic choices with different costs and benefits. One option is going directly to the Jockey Club (G1) over 10 furlongs on turf at San Isidro, requiring adaptation to another surface and another distance with that same stamina shown on the dirt mile. The other is consolidating his mile dominance, capitalizing on proven superiority and turning high performance into a streak, which adds sport and commercial value to a colt in development. The right choice depends on his type, his way of winning, and the maturation plan the team wants to execute. Argentina continues to be a showcase for the world, collectively, the eyes of the industry are on this son of Distinctiv Passion (With Distinction). Gardel Pass (Distinctiv Passion) defining alongside Drive Joy (Fortify). Gardel Pass’s case becomes especially compelling when the gaze shifts from the wire to the stud. He is by Distinctiv Passion (With Distinction), a stallion imported in 2018, not a phenomenon with enormous books, but a “value sire” operated under a boutique logic. He was supported almost exclusively by mares from Haras El Alfalfar, with limited books, continuity, and selectivity. In five generations there have been 87 foals, 59 runners, and 41 winners, that’s a 69.5% winners-to-runners ratio. There are eight stakes winners, six of them group winners, and this one is his first G1 progeny. This is not luck, but consolidation of a model where internal mares sustain the stallion’s project until the individual that stamps the highest mark appears. The birth sequence per season outlines a carefully managed growth that mirrors confidence supported by data: 13 foals in 2018; 17 in 2019; 26 in 2020; 31 in 2021; 37 in 2022; 45 in 2023; and 9 so far in 2024. There’s no trend-driven inflation, just a curve built patiently. His dam, La Cumparsita Key (Key Deputy), provides the other pillar. She won one race and placed third in the Carlos Casares (G3), but as a broodmare has delivered remarkable efficiency: five runners, five winners, two black-type, one of which is G1. A year before Gardel Pass was born she produced Papusa Pass (Distinctiv Passion), a full-sister to the winner and G3/G2 winner over 5&6 furlongs at Palermo. The maternal line is all from the Haras of Mr. Alfredo Camogli, showing again high productivity in speed with enough stretch to handle a mile. The {4‑p} family also includes Todo Tango Key (Key Deputy), Villero Cat (Easing Along), Compasivo Cat (Easing Along), Llorón Cat (Easing Along), and the talented Tristeza Cat (Easing Along). In the Polla de Potrancas (G1), Palermo posed a question. The unbeaten Moon Frank (Gidu) had to validate her figure against the prior benchmark, Charm (Strategos), winner of the Estrellas Juveniles Fillies G1 at the same racetrack and distance. The answer was affirmative and emphatic: Moon Frank maintained her unbeaten record with a one-length victory—the kind of win that doesn’t diminish her runner-up but firmly establishes the hierarchy on the day when the calendar demands it. Sportingly, it’s the kind of race that shows that being unbeaten isn’t a fragile statistic but a result of consistently correct tactical decisions under pressure. Moon Frank (Gidu) giving Gidu his first G1 as a freshman sire. Trained by internationally experienced trainer Diego Peña, the winner added a crucial breeding component—giving freshman sire Gidu (Frankel) his first G1 winner as a stallion. That metric is double-fold: a first classic by a freshman sire not only lights up stats but validates the haras’s choice and feeds future production value. Gidu’s 2022 crop totals 52 foals, and next season there will be only 16 two-year-olds, all owned by Haras Gran Muñeca. Haras Gran Muñeca’s effectiveness, years with Full Mast (Mizzen Mast), now with Gidu (Frankel), and their pastures await the offspring of Made You Look (More Than Ready), the operation led by Hernán Gasibe with collaboration from Dr. Juan Garat. Podium for Moon Frank (Gidu). From left to right: Dr. Juan P. Garat, Mr. Hernán Gasibe, Moon Frank, her team, and Diego Peña with relatives. Moon Sale (Not For Sale), the dam of the filly, is a multiple classic winner in Argentina. Since 2016 she has produced five named foals; all ran, four won, and Moon Frank is the first G1. The family, from Haras Las Ortigas (Ignacio Correas II and III), and for the past three dams from the now-defunct Haras San Lorenzo de Areco, offers valuable quality for those considering the filly as a future broodmare. Not just a single race record, but a line with fertility, soundness, and ability to convert phenotype into performance. Practically, she not only leads her generation, but also raises her residual value for a second chapter at stud through both results and dam line consistency. In São Paulo, Cidade Jardim distributed their jewels in a Haras Río Iguassú double showing their precision in big races. In the Ipiranga (G1) for colts, Star Do Iguassú (Outstrip) met favoritism with an authoritative win under João Moreira. Coming off a second behind Oderich (Drosselmeyer) in the Taça de Prata (G1), and with the absence of both Oderich and Tá Legal (Can The Man), he still solved a demanding mile racing equation. The best colt from Paraná covered the 8-furlong on São Paulo’s turf in 1:33.74—a time that highlights his performance; he knew how to take control, assume favorite responsibilities, and win with ease. Star Do Iguassú (Outstrip) winning comfortably by 11/4 lengths. Star Do Iguassú is out of Energia Halo (Gloria de Campeão), bred by Haras Estrella Energía. In her seven starts, she won four races, one at G2 level, and another G2 second-place, she never finished off the board. Energia Halo already produced Pearl Do Iguassú (Forestry), a talented winner of five races (including a listed), with two classic placings in G2 and G1. Her third product, Quico Do Iguassú (Camelot Kitten), won 2 of his 3 starts. The fourth product is this precocious colt. It would be good to see him at Jockey Club Paulista, São Paulo’s second Triple Crown jewel, though this year it will be run on October 18 at Gávea, Rio de Janeiro, because that Saturday is reserved for the Grand Premio Latinoamericano (G1), the highest-rated race in South American turf. Genetically, Star Do Iguassú may excel at distance. Not only is he by Outstrip (Exceed And Excel), but his maternal line suggests he can sustain his class. He carries a 5x5x5x5 inbreeding to Northern Dancer (Nearctic). His second dam, Super Electric (Choctaw Ridge), won 3 and placed in listed, G3, and G2 races. She produced Energia Halo and the globetrotting Energia Fox (Agnes Gold), who raced at Gávea, was second in the 2013 G.P. Latinoamericano in Santiago, and later ran in Europe and Dubai. She competed across three continents: South America, Europe, and the Middle East. This maternal line, {9‑h}, was imported by Haras Calunga via Sassy Miss (Sassafras) in the 1980s. She produced two classic winners and her daughters produced multiple black-type winners such as Sushi-Bar (Jato Dagua), a sprinter classic winner in 2003/04, and listed winners Super-Forte (Choctaw Ridge) and Super Hina (Choctaw Ridge). The structure behind these results adds clarity to the Pelanda family double and their turf dominance over recent seasons. This product, bred and owned by Haras Río Iguassú, is trained by Antonio Oldoni and ridden by Moreira. Their team executes an integrated program combining home breeding that prioritizes a specific type, producing year after year incredible, talented runners. Their sports operation maximizes their horses’ potential, especially with one of the world’s top jocks, “The Magic Man” João Moreira, significantly reducing the narrow margin for error. When a homebred wins the series’ first G1, it’s not mere fortune, it’s evidence the program works. And when it repeats with another homebred mare that afternoon, it becomes a trend. Summer Do Iguassú (Camelot Kitten) on the outside, Veil (Can The Man) held on inside. The Barão de Piracicaba (G1) was highlighted as the peak of the São Paulo card, not only for the result but for the time. The fillies ran 1:32.89, a time 0.85 seconds faster than the colts. The race featured Veil (Can The Man), bred at Haras Santa Julieta in Aceguá for Dante Luiz Franceschi, now owner of Haras Belmont, setting the pace from the start. She was overtaken in the final strides by Summer Do Iguassú (Camelot Kitten) in a finish pitting bravery against the charging Rio Iguassú filly. The time comparison with the Ipiranga (G1) speaks volumes the female generation in Brazil is strong and fast. For the Pelanda operation, the win has added meaning. Their invincible Special Do Iguassú (Forestry) didn’t run, being not quite fit for this race, but the Haras chose to showcase another top-tier option and the plan paid off. The dam of Summer Do Iguassú is a daughter of Wild Event (Wild Again), her fourth foal and first stakes winner. All progeny by Camelot Kitten out of Wild Event mares show a 3x4 duplication to the dam North Of Eden (Northfields), dam of the late Wild Event and third dam of Haras Río Iguassú’s sire, located at Paraná. This cross also creates a 5x5 inbreeding to Northern Dancer (Nearctic). In Montevideo, Maroñas mirrored São Paulo’s pattern: hot early fractions, bold leaders, and characterful finishes, evidence that a breeding project, fueled by method and accumulation, became dominant over the weekend. The Polla de Potrancas (G3) went to Tantan Royal (Midshipman) over favorite Grandinata (Trinniberg), who had run the opening 4 furlongs in 45.49, paying for that early effort late. The filly, under Antonio Luiz Cintra’s team and ridden by Héctor F. Lazo of Haras Phillipson, managed the effort precisely, tracking in the second flight and producing a strong stretch run. She is now the generation’s leader. In a month, the GP Selección (G3) over 10 furlongs will be run, Tantan Royal could be the standout. Tantan Royal (Midshipman) passing from the outside. The genetic blueprint explains the outcome’s predictability. Tantan Royal is by Leca Princess (T. H. Approval), an unraced mare but perfect as a dam. Her first product, Sandrin Royal (Will Take Charge), is a three-time winner including a maiden, special handicap, and a G3 stakes. Her second is Tantan Royal , also a G3 winner. Looking ahead, she has a 2023 colt by Creative Cause (Giant’s Causeway), another shuttle stallion used by Haras Phillipson. The colt is named Timbrothers . However, the mare now resides at Haras Don Juca in Caraguatá, owned by Jorge and Santiago Jacobo of Stud El Caverna. In her pedigree appears a deliberate Caro duplication, 4x4 in her last 9 generations. It’s no accident but a choice by Benjamín Steinbruch, a passionate advocate of Caro . The second dam, Risk Adjusted (Ski Champ), won a race at Cidade Jardim and ran in listed and group races, adding toughness and speed. Add to this that Phillipson took Midshipman (Unbridled’s Song) on shuttle in 2021 from Darley, and you see a precise formula: sire choice, maternal genetic definition with breed-leading duplication, heavy breeding investment, all delivering on track. The Polla de Potrillos (G3) followed the logic of efficiency outperforming flash-in-the-pan brilliance, Phillipson won the first leg of Uruguay’s Triple Crown for the third consecutive year. Rock Walk (2023) and the triple crown winner Suablenanav TH (2024), now Tadow Star (Midshipman), ridden by Luis Alberto Cáceres and trained by Brazilian Raimundo Soares, exclusive trainer for the operation. This colt had repeatedly followed stablemate Touch Of Destiny (Midshipman), now training in California for Michael McCarthy readying for the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar. Tadow Star (Midshipman) arriving to the winner’s circle. This time consistency became a title, he took the first jewel emphatically, by comfortable 3 lengths. His dam, Jada (T. H. Approval), continues the pattern. The Midshipman - T. H. Approval nick cross confirms the 4×4 Caro , while the dam adds a third line via Punk (Ringaro), a paternal grandson of the Irish breed leader, resulting in Caro 4x4x5. Second dam Redundancia (Punk) won twice at Cidade Jardim. Third dam Jalea (Two Harbors), bred in Argentina by Haras La Doma, is foundational to Phillipson’s mares under Benjamín. When these three selective duplication elements, proven maternal lines, and significant shuttle investment align, the chances of producing classic-caliber and uniform foals increase. Benjamín Steinbruch receiving the G3 Polla de Potranca’s trophy. The Steinbruch operation is at its peak, with homebreds, a triple crown winner in Kentucky, a 2-year-old ready for international mile competition, aiming for a second triple crown. A feat never seen in Uruguayan horse racing industry: back-to-back Triple Crown winners bred on the same farm. Phillipson’s success isn’t luck, it’s methodical. Years after entering Uruguay, they structured staff and processes, reformed prep training, and recently invested in an all-weather breaking track, a change directly impacting athlete quality entering training. That decision standardizes stimuli, reduces early unpredictability, and, above all, harmonizes communication between breeders and trainers. We recall their 2015 generation when mostly Fusaichi Pegasus (Mr. Prospector) offspring were produced via shuttle, the big investment ended in poorly favored, problematic juveniles underperforming on track. In Uruguay’s environment, that should’ve sparked concern; instead, they used it as healthy competitive tension and improved. In racing, no one is required to copy methods, but anyone contesting major classics is compelled to reassess their processes. Several common threads ran through Latin American tracks: the mile, whether at Palermo, Cidade Jardim, or Maroñas, remains the supreme athletic lab, testing a blend of speed and stamina. The 46.72 opening for 4 furlongs in the Buenos Aires Polla, the 1:32.89 by the fillies in São Paulo, and the 45.49 initial fraction by Grandinata in Montevideo, three distinct figures telling the same story: demanding distance punishes those who can’t convert speed into extension across a full trip. Those six winners came from four different owner-breeders. Is breeding ownership the most effective stable model? Should owners buy land, build facilities, and breed to win a G1? Integrated structures, breeding, training, and racing as a whole, best translate blueprints into winner’s circle photos and stakes trophies. Río Iguassú in Paraná, Brazil, and Phillipson in Lavalleja, Uruguay, apply consistent programs that, though different in style, share coherent methodology. Retaining their best foals is inevitable. Haras Gran Muñeca has produced three G1 winners in Argentina, Tan Gritona (Full Mast) , Full Keid  (Full Mast) , and now Moon Frank (Gidu), all for their turquoise and black silks; meanwhile, Full Serrano  (Full Mast) ran for them until sold to the U.S. and captured the latest Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Río Iguassú retains most of their annual production; Phillipson sells none of theirs, a tradition since founding in Brazil, continuing via operations in São Paulo, Argentina, and now Uruguay. A few American-market yearlings from Brownwood Farm have been sold, but they’re the exception because this market it’s worth it. Haras Río Iguassú’s facilities in Paraná, Brazil. And that’s not bad. It’s the rules of the game. Breeders possess racing’s most valuable asset, the maternal lines. Not just background, they’re the energy behind sustainable projects. Moon Sale at Gran Muñeca, Leca Princess at Phillipson, and Energia Halo at Río Iguassú, three mares with diverse profiles aligned in what matters: multiplicity. And breeding models that function sensibly in context: boutique sires with small books like Distinctiv Passion convert limited resources into high efficiency. Freshman sires like Gidu landing their first G1 sustain value with controlled supply. Shuttle sires aligned with a defined female genetic pattern like Midshipman with replicated 4x4 Caro create consistent crops and repeated success. Pedigree economics, like biomechanics, explain why some races are won. El Alfalfar invested in its own stallion and sustained him with internal mares; Gran Muñeca backed a freshman, controlled supply, and capitalized on the first G1; Río Iguassú built internal selection logic, aligned teams, and executed it precisely. Phillipson imported a shuttle sire, defined genetic matrices with Caro duplication, built a sandbox, and professionalized systems. None guarantee a G1, but they boost the odds that when a good colt or filly appears, the structure is ready. A closed recipe doesn’t exist; this weekend gave a candid answer: there is no recipe, there is method. A method that starts with a multiplying broodmare, goes through a sire that amplifies what she already offers, is trained by a team who believe, and validated by a clock that, when it says yes, arrives with the naturalness of good planning from the start. When that circle closes, six races like these happen. Even amid economies where purses aren’t strong, remember, the path remains the same: wise genetics, rigorous breeding, and courage to invest even when temptation says “wait.” In Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and Montevideo it was shown: when bets are made in the right order, results appear on time.

On Saturday, August 2nd, in the 98th running of the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, Sierra Leone  (Gun Runner) once again showcased the power of his sustained late run. Last after the first 5 furlongs of the race, Sierra Leone  traveled comfortably while Contrary Thinking  (Into Mischief) fulfilled his role as “pace-maker”, setting testing splits of 23.82 for the first 2 furlongs and 47.07 for the first 4. As the leaders collapsed after completing 6 furlongs in 1:11.59, the favorite Fierceness  (City of Light), forced to move too early, lost momentum 1½ furlongs from the wire. Sierra Leone  swung out to the six path, covered the final 3 furlongs in 34.40 and stopped the clock in 1:48.92 for the 9-furlong distance over a fast track, defeating Highland Falls  (Curlin) by one length. The card posted a record handle of U$S 49,651,341 and gave Chad C. Brown his first Whitney victory, along with a new “Win & You’re In” ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Classic via the Challenge Series. Bred in Lexington, Kentucky by Debby and John Oxley, Sierra Leone  was consigned by Gainesway at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. His flawless conformation and a pedigree blending the rising line of Gun Runner  (Candy Ride) with the precocious G1-winning mare Heavenly Love  (Malibu Moon) triggered aggressive bidding, ultimately selling for U$S 2,300,000 — a record price for that year’s sale. The winning bid came from the partnership of White Birch Farm (Peter Brant) and Michael Vincent Magnier, son of Coolmore principal John Magnier. “He’s a magnificent colt, by an emerging sire and out of a G1-winning filly at 2; everything added up to make the perfect horse,” said Brian Graves (Gainesway) after the auction, anticipating massive future value if the colt succeeded in stakes company. Indeed, Sierra Leone  has since fulfilled that promise, and the strategic planning from his connections has been clear: build classic prestige to set him up as the heir to his sire at Ashford Stud in Lexington, Kentucky. Sierra Leone  (Gun Runner) winning his third G1 at Saratoga, Saratoga Springs, New York. Two weeks prior to the race, Sierra Leone  breezed 4 furlongs in 48.80 on Saratoga’s main track. Chad C. Brown, multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer, noted that Sierra Leone  is perhaps “the best horse I’ve ever trained.” Even though the colt had gone winless in three previous Saratoga starts, Brown never doubted his affinity for the surface: “Looking at his numbers, I was never convinced he didn’t like this track; he just hadn’t won here yet. He’s been running against the best, in the Travers and Belmont Stakes, and posted some of his best speed figures at Saratoga.” Confident, Brown came into the Whitney with high hopes. The performance validated his expectations: biomechanically, Sierra Leone  recorded his best stride length of the year, showing his late kick is lethal when he hits top form. Video of Sierra Leone 's (Gun Runner) victory in the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. From the outset, Sierra Leone  has had an outstanding campaign, defined by his consistency at the top level. At 2, he made only two starts: a comfortable debut win and a runner-up effort behind Dornoch  (Good Magic) in the Remsen Stakes (G2) in December 2023, hinting at early class. At 3, he never finished off the board in seven starts, always facing elite company. His standout victories include the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, and the season finale triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) against older rivals. He was second in the Kentucky Derby (G1), narrowly defeated by Mystik Dan  (Goldencents), and runner-up again in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga, behind Fierceness  (City Of Light) and ahead of Preakness winner Seize The Grey  (Arrogate). He also placed third in two marquee races: the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1), both at Saratoga. This remarkable record earned him the 2024 Champion 3-Year-Old Male title in the United States, reflecting his generational dominance. In 2025, now a 4-year-old, Sierra Leone  remained competitive though expectations were even higher: he ran third in the New Orleans Classic (G2) and second in the Stephen Foster (G1) before snapping his winless streak in the Whitney. After that, his lifetime record stood at 12: 5 wins, 4 seconds, 3 thirds, and $6,806,200 in earnings. Notably, he has never finished worse than third, a testament to his top-level consistency. With this latest win, he became the leading money earner among the offspring of Gun Runner  ( Candy Ride ), surpassing even his siblings: Taiba , Gun Pilot , Echo Zulu , Gunite , Early Voting , Il Miracolo , Disarm (who was 3rd in this Whitney), Society , Vahva , Cyberknife , among others. Beyond his flawless physique, Sierra Leone  possesses a blue-blood pedigree explaining both his hefty yearling price and elite racetrack performance. On the sire’s side, he is by Gun Runner  (Candy Ride), a young stallion from the Fappiano sire line, descending through Cryptoclearance  → Ride The Rails  → Candy Ride , who has quickly risen to the top of American breeding. Gun Runner  was a brilliant racehorse, winner of six G1s (including the 2017 Whitney Stakes and 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic), and was crowned 2017 "Horse of the Year at the Eclipse Awards". Since retirement, Gun Runner  has passed on his excellence to his progeny: in his early crops, he has already sired more than ten G1 winners. Known for speed but not limited to sprints, his average winning distance is around 7½ furlongs, and he excels at producing two-turn performers. Sierra Leone  is, to date, Gun Runner ’s most accomplished son. On the dam’s side, the genetics are equally elite. His dam, Heavenly Love , is by Malibu Moon  (A. P. Indy) and descends from a classic family. She won twice at 2, including the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, demonstrating both precocity and stamina over 8½ furlongs. She hails from Darling My Darling  (Deputy Minister), a G1-placed mare and dam of G2 winner Forever Darling  (Congrats), who in turn produced multiple G1 winner Forever Young  (Real Steel) — the same colt involved in the controversial 2024 Kentucky Derby finish. These names reinforce the strength of this female line. This successful {2-b} family traces to Roamin Rachel  ( Mining ), a G1 winner bred in Kentucky and later exported to Japan after being sold for $750,000 to Shiraoi Farm by Nobuo Tsunoda. There, she produced champion Zenno Rob Roy  (Sunday Silence), a multiple G1 winner and Japan’s Horse of the Year and Champion Older Mare in 2004. Heavenly Love  (Malibu Moon), dam of Sierra Leone  (Gun Runner), in the field. Sierra Leone  is the second foal from G1 winner Heavenly Love , who in 2024 produced a filly by Gun Runner , a full sister to this Coolmore sensation. The Gun Runner  - Heavenly Love  mating blends some of the most influential modern bloodlines: from Gun Runner  come the powerful lines of paternal grandsire Candy Ride  and maternal grandsire Giant’s Causeway ; from Heavenly Love  come the classic strength of A. P. Indy  (Seattle Slew) and Deputy Minister  (Vice Regent). In other words, Sierra Leone  carries the prized Candy Ride – A. P. Indy  nick, which has produced numerous blacktype winners in recent years: Game Winner , Taiba , Candivo , Ollie’s Candy , and Mastery , to name a few. Moreover, Gun Runner  already has successful crosses involving Candy Ride – Storm Cat , and Locked  is also by Gun Runner  out of a Malibu Moon  mare (A. P. Indy). It’s no coincidence that this cross contains duplications of Mr. Prospector  (Raise A Native) in Sierra Leone ’s pedigree. Gun Runner  carries a 4x4 inbreeding to Fappiano  (Mr. Prospector), while Heavenly Love  brings in her own 3x4 inbreeding to Mr. Prospector  via her damline ( Malibu Moon ’s dam and Mining ). This mating doesn’t create duplications between sire and dam, but features distinct “sireside only” and “damside only” inbreedings offset by one generation — namely Fappiano  at 5Sx5S and Mr. Prospector  at 4Dx5D. This yields an excellent genetic background with a low inbreeding coefficient. As Michael V. Magnier said after seeing him win: “He’s a very special horse; what he did last year was amazing, and he reaffirmed it today. We’re blessed to have him.” Genetically, Sierra Leone  had greatness in his blood. With a top sire, a G1-winning 2-year-old dam, and a regal pedigree, it’s no surprise he commanded $2.3 million as a yearling, and later earned several million more on the track. After the Whitney, plans for Sierra Leone  now turn toward sealing his legacy on the track before transitioning to stallion duty. Trainer Chad Brown indicated a possible run in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on August 31 at Saratoga — another “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup — “since the horse hasn’t raced much this year and is in great shape.” Brown is confident: “I’m not afraid to run him back; if he comes out of this well, we have enough time before the Breeders’,” he said, hinting at another potential G1 win this summer. The ultimate target is, without doubt, the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on Saturday, November 1 at Del Mar, where Sierra Leone  will attempt a historic feat: winning the Classic two years in a row. Only one horse in history has done that — the legendary Tiznow  ( Cees Tizzy ), who won the 2000 and 2001 editions. Pulling off that “double-event” would elevate Sierra Leone  to the pantheon of modern greats. Beyond the track, Coolmore acquired Sierra Leone  as a yearling with the clear intention of turning him into a stallion at their Ashford base in Lexington, Kentucky. Every campaign decision has been made to boost his stallion value: running in the brightest spotlights, proving durability at ages 2, 3, and 4, and winning prestigious stakes across distances and venues. So far, mission accomplished. With wins in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and now the Whitney, a race his sire Gun Runner  won eight years earlier on his path to Horse of the Year, Sierra Leone  has built an ideal résumé for a future stud. His pedigree blends fresh and desirable blood, Candy Ride's, with proven classic lines, making him highly attractive to breeders worldwide. It is expected that following this year’s Breeders’ Cup, Sierra Leone  will retire and begin his new career in the Ashford stallion barn under Coolmore. With powerful genetics and the support of a global racing empire, he stands as one of the most promising young stallion prospects on the horizon of international breeding.

Special Do Iguassú  (Forestry) extended her unbeaten record to 5-for-5 in the Margarida Polak Lara – Taça de Prata  (G1), during a special day organized by the Brazilian Association of Breeders and Owners of Racehorses (ABCPCC) at the Cidade Jardim Racecourse in São Paulo. The Copa dos Criadores  day hosted by ABCPCC was a festival of Paraná-bred talent. João Moreira won five races, while Río Iguassú —the silks of Paulo and Luis Felipe Pelanda—won with Special Do Iguassú  (G1). Obataye  (Courtier) qualified for the Gran Premio Latinoamericano by winning the Mathias Machline  (G1), the fillies’ classic went to Q’luz Do Iguassú  (Forestry), and Tyrion  (Salto) captured a Listed Stakes. Moreira also won with Rick The Great  (Going Somewhere), completing a 1–2 for Haras Phillipson in a two-mile G3. João Moreira celebrating the G1 victory aboard Special Do Iguassú (Forestry). Boasting over 5,700 international wins, four-time champion in Hong Kong and twice in Japan, Moreira was raised near the eucalyptus groves of Curitiba. Whenever he returns to Brazil, he reconnects with the São Paulo fans—at Cidade Jardim the announcer nicknamed him “The Ghost of Cidade Jardim” because, back in early 2010, he seemed to win with any horse that wasn’t expected to. At the end of the day, still at Cidade Jardim, the Troféu Mossoró  ceremony honored him as the best jockey of Brazil’s 2024–2025 season. As soon as the gates opened, João Moreira took the lead with Special Do Iguassú , letting her settle comfortably off the pace while maintaining close contact with firm fractions. In the stretch, “The Magic Man” decisively challenged the leader, daily took over with ease—but Perfect Plastic  (Goldikovic), ridden by Dylan Machado on the inside, launched a sharp late run, adding drama to the final meters. Not to be denied, the Forestry filly dug in, showing the bravery and class that define her—holding off the challenge by a neck. She covered the mile in a superb time of 1:33.03, a new race record—even faster than the male winners posted just 30 minutes later. The record of Special Do Iguassú  (Forestry) is flawless: a win on debut in a conditional over 1,000m at Tarumã; a Listed Stakes at the same track; victory in the João Cecilio Ferraz  (G1) at São Paulo; and most recently the Pegasus Fillies  at Tarumã against quality fillies. Once again, she proved superior to all competitors. She is the undefeated standout of her generation and only needs to face Odalisca  (Sangarius), another unbeaten filly who won the Paula Machado  (G2) in Gávea during the international week of the Grande Prêmio Brasil—the highlights of Brazilian racing. Special Do Iguassú  also earned the "Troféu Mossoró" for “Best 2-Year-Old Filly” during Saturday night’s ceremony. Video of Margarida Polak Lara - Taca de Prata (G1) won by Special Do Iguassú (Forestry). Special Do Iguassú  was bred and is owned by Haras Río Iguassú, though her maternal line was developed at Haras Santa Maria de Araras. Back in 1977, Julio Bozano purchased Perusa  (Pardallo)—the fourth dam of our filly—for his Argentine operations. Her first foal, Sport Lady  (Banner Sport), won five races in Argentina, including the Gilberto Lerena  (G1). At the same Mar del Plata farms where she was born, Sport Lady  entered the broodmare band and produced Special Lady  (Lode), winner of two local conditional races. Exported to Brazil, she went on to G1 glory at Gávea, nearly achieving a triple crown: winning the Grande Prêmio Henrique Possolo  (G1), placing third in the Grande Prêmio Diana  (G1), and then capturing the Marciano de Aguiar Moreira  (G1). After retiring, Special Lady  was moved to Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, as a broodmare where she produced black-type winners by sires like Wild Event  (Wild Again), Royal Academy  (Nijinsky), Ghadeer  (Lyphard), and Put It Back  (Honour and Glory). From Special Lady  and Wild Event  came Variety Lady , dam of our undefeated champion. Family {3‑b} is an iconic Argentine matriarchal line that traces back to Whirlwind  (Thormanby), imported in foal to Galliard  (Galopin) from England in 1884 by Santiago Luro. Whirlwind  was granddaughter of the prolific English producer Midia  (Scutari). In short, Whirlwind’s  pedigree embodied genetic excellence typical of elite breeders. Whirlwind  produced Asteria  (Gay Hermit), founder dam of Haras Ojo de Agua. She also produced Casiopea  (Kendal), winner of the Jockey Club  (G1) against males on grass at San Isidro, and shortly before had won on dirt against top fillies. Her daughter Dogaresa  (Your Majesty) produced Veneta  (Foxglove), whose descendants paired powerfully with the stallion Advocate  (Fair Trial), producing La Dogana , Venise  and Trevisa , all influential Argentine broodmares. In terms of broodmare value, being from such a prolific female family is a major asset—it often correlates with fertility and the ability to transmit class. Genetically, Special Do Iguassú  blends influential and complementary lineages. On the sire side, she is by Forestry  (Storm Cat), an American speed stallion who came to Latin America via shuttle: Argentina in 2010–2011, Peru in 2013, and then imported to Haras São José da Serra in Paraná in 2014. He stood until 2021 and died in December 2023 of old age. Forestry  delivers the speed and precocity of Storm Cat  (Storm Bird), known for muscular power and competitive spirit. He also carries through Pleasant Colony (His Majesty) on the dam side, adding size and stamina. This Storm Cat–Pleasant Colony blend gives Special Do Iguassú  a strong genetic frame: speed with middle-distance stamina. Given her quality female line, she should be capable of stretching out in distance. Dam-side, Variety Lady  is a daughter of champion Wild Event  (Wild Again), a multiple-time leading sire in Brazil and top broodmare sire. Wild Event , winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, is out of North of Eden  (Northfields), a prolific producer of middle-distance winners (about 10 furlongs), imparting stamina. He is half‑brother to U.S. grass champions Paradise Creek  and Forbidden Apple , combining Nearctic/Man o’ War via Wild Again and Northern Dancer via Northfields. Lode  (Mr. Prospector) adds stamina through the dam line plus the genetic influence of Raise a Native . In Special Do Iguassú’s  pedigree, Raise a Native  appears twice (5D × 5D) through Lode  and Banner Sport  (sire of Sport Lady ), creating a mild inbreeding on the dam’s side— Raise a Native  being recognized as a sire-of-sires for his speed. Special Lady  (G1 winner) earlier carried a stronger inbreeding (3S × 3D). There are also distant duplications of Northern Dancer , Storm Bird , and Northfields , which reinforce valuable genes while avoiding excessive inbreeding—a line-breeding strategy that yields consistency without loss of variety. Meanwhile, Storm Cat  and Wild Again  lines remain outcrossed to Mr. Prospector , adding genetic diversity. This mix of moderate line-breeding and outcross produces uniform offspring. Beyond racing success, Special Do Iguassú  would be a highly desirable broodmare. Considering her pedigree and known successful nicking patterns in the region, several Brazilian stallions could ideal complement her genetics—like Pim­per’s Paradise , Game Winner , or Courtier . Pimper’s Paradise  (Put It Back) brings strong stamina into a pedigree that lacks it. He is free of Storm Cat  and Mr. Prospector , creating low inbreeding (F≈2%). His dam, Bye Bye Caroline , adds the Nijinsky line via Royal Academy , known in South America for reinforcing stamina and turf adaptation—exactly what Special Do Iguassú  needs. This match combines Forestry’s  early acceleration with Pimper’s Paradise’s  proven stamina (winner of Brazil’s G1 Grande Prêmio and G1 Matias Machline), producing potentially versatile G1 foals. His family descends from Court Lady  (Locris), founder of the Stud TNT and the base dam of Doce Vale. Hypothetical mating between Pimper’s Paradise (Put It Back) and Special Do Iguassú (Forestry). Genetically, this cross generates a 5x5 duplication of Northern Dancer  and a Rasmussen Factor 4x5 involving the Reine-de-Course Crimson Saint  (Crimson Satan) of family {8‑c}. The duplication emerges through two distinct maternal lines, one via Royal Academy  (Nijinsky), the other via Terlingua  (Secretariat), mother of Storm Cat . Since the repeat occurs through both male and female lines, it balances chromosomal contribution without excessive homozygosity on the X chromosome, making Pimper’s Paradise  an excellent match for Special Do Iguassú . If the goal is to reinforce the Mr. Prospector /Raise a Native sire line, Game Winner  (Candy Ride) is a very attractive option—his first breeding season in Brazil is set for 2026. Plans include possible participation in the São Paulo Triple Crown, the equivalent Rio juvenile series early next year, and final retirement during Grande Prêmio Brasil  week. Crossing Special Do Iguassú  with Game Winner , the first son of Candy Ride  entering Brazilian breeding, would result in inbreeding 5x5 to Secretariat  (Bold Ruler). As discussed in the article about Game Winner’s  arrival in Brazilian bloodstock, the Candy Ride  × Storm Cat  cross is highly effective for classic winners, such as Gun Runner , Shared Belief , Sidney’s Candy , and Evita Argentina . On dam lines by Forestry , which are rare, Candy Ride’s  sire line has produced top foals like Ag Bullet  (G1 winner, U$S 1.6 million earnings), Chewing Gum  (G2 winner and G1 placed), and Candy Man Rocket  (G3 winner). Also notable is Courtier  (Pioneer of the Nile), a stallion well-known to the Pelanda family and sire of their standout Obataye . Courtier  comes from a maternal line featuring Coup de Génie  (Mr. Prospector), a French champion daughter of Coup de Folie  (Halo), central to family {2‑d}. A Courtier  × Special Do Iguassú  mating would repeat Mr. Prospector  only as a 5x5 inbreeding. Courtier’s  stud profile reinforces his appeal: his progeny include Dashing Court , São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul champion at two; Ethereum , named Brazil’s Horse of the Year and best 3-year-old filly in 2024–2025 (out of a dam by Wild Event , same maternal grandsire as Special Do Iguassú ); and Obataye , newly qualified for the Gran Premio Latinoamericano  (G1) at Gávea. Indeed, Courtier  over mares by Forestry  has already produced promising runners like Rihanna Do Iguassú , Grand Diamond  (two wins, U$S 9,200), and Crak Court  (one win and three placings at two). Luiz Felipe Pelanda, owner of Special Do Iguassú (Forestry) after winning the G1. On September 6 at Cidade Jardim, the Barão de Piracicaba  (G1)—the first leg of the São Paulo Triple Crown for fillies—will be run, and Special Do Iguassú  is firmly in the frame as a leading contender. With a springtime campaign approaching, the countdown is on. Race after race, rival quality rises—but none have beaten her yet. In the São Paulo Triple Crown, the ultimate truth awaits. Special Do Iguassú  is truly special, because "she doesn’t just run, she parades."

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)

This year's sales season, running from early March to late June, comprised a total of 12 auctions offering yearlings born in 2022. The results offer valuable insight into the current state and dynamics of Brazil’s bloodstock market. A total of 691 yearlings from the 2022 foal crop were cataloged, reflecting a 6% increase over the previous year. Out of these, 541 horses were successfully sold (282 colts and 259 fillies), with a median price of R$58,500, representing a 15% increase compared to 2023. Meanwhile, 136 yearlings (20%) failed to meet their reserve prices, a higher percentage than the previous year. Eleven lots were withdrawn after being offered in pairs, and three horses did not receive any bids. Colts achieved, on average, sale prices 25% higher than fillies, indicating a narrowing of the gender-based price gap compared to 2023. The distribution of sale prices was consistent with past trends, with five horses selling for more than R$300,000, 123 sold between R$200,000 and R$290,000, and 103 between R$100,000 and R$195,000. The sires with the highest number of offspring sold were Can The Man (Into Mischief) (47 head; 27 colts and 20 fillies) with an average of R$113,585, and Sangarius (Kingman) (41 head; 26 colts and 15 fillies), who reached an average price of R$116,000, an increase of 17% compared to 2023. Verrazano (More Than Ready), Wired Bryan (Stormy Atlantic), and Tiger Heart (Scatmandu) followed with 29 progeny each. The top-performing sire by average price was Drosselmeyer (Distorted Humor), whose 20 horses sold for an average of R$133,350. His advanced age and established legacy likely contributed to the strong demand for his fillies, reflecting a clear market trend toward preserving his bloodline in local broodmare populations. The market maintained strong demand for Can The Man (Into Mischief) despite his absence from the breeding shed, while Sangarius (Cracksman) solidified his reputation after his first crop showed promise on the track. Noteworthy individual sales included Heliostatic (Galileo), Olympic Jhonsnow (Agnes Gold), and Arrocha (Pounced), each represented by a single horse sold above R$100,000. Sangarius (Kingman) winning a Listed Stakes in Doncaster for Juddmonte with Ryan Moore. Stud H&R, recently renamed as Haras Legacy, led all buyers in both volume and price, acquiring 46 horses at an average exceeding R$160,000. Their aggressive acquisitions reflect the scale and ambition of their “Legacy Project”, a transformative investment that is reshaping the Brazilian racing and breeding landscape. Among consignors, Haras Nijú (49 head), Ponta Porã (36 head), and Santa Rita da Serra (32 head) recorded the highest numbers of completed sales. Out of 77 breeders active in the sales, only 20 achieved average prices above R$70,000, and seven surpassed the R$100,000 mark, two fewer than in the previous year. The broader market context was marked by a mixture of optimism and structural challenges. While three of Brazil’s main racetracks are under solid administrative leadership and poised to benefit from online betting expansion, the Jockey Club of São Paulo continues to face internal struggles and municipal pressure over its land. This environment remains a critical area to monitor. From a bloodstock perspective, Drosselmeyer’s enduring appeal is rooted in the strength of the Mr. Prospector line, represented here through Forty Niner and Distorted Humor. Despite market enthusiasm, some skepticism remains around Can The Man (Into Mischief), whose track record and limited impact as a sire do not fully justify current price levels. In contrast, Sangarius (Kingman) has begun to meet expectations and holds potential for further growth. Regional highlights included the Sprint Sales in Carazinho, held in April, which achieved an average price near R$100,000, an impressive figure by domestic standards. Additionally, Fazenda Mondesir and Haras Santa Rita da Serra posted strong performances, averaging R$150,000 and R$144,000 respectively. A special acknowledgement goes to Dr. Adriano Quadros for his ongoing contribution to the sprinting division and his dedication to industry development.We look forward to continued growth and innovation in the second half of the year.

Following a massive investment of trust by the breeding operation of Dr. Juan Carlos Bagó, The Great Day  (Harlan’s Holiday) earned his first Group 1-winning offspring with the victory of his son The Great Racing  in the Argentinian 2,000 Guineas, contested over the mile on the turf track at the traditional San Isidro Racecourse. The Great Racing (The Great Glory) winning the 2,000 Guineas (G1). First G1 for him, for his sire, and for his owner in Argentinian turf. Co-owned by Dr. Francisco Gallinal and his breeder Dr. Juan Carlos Bagó, the colt is trained by the top trainer at Palermo, who has now also conquered the racetrack located north of Buenos Aires. His jockey has always been William Pereyra, and he carried the silks of Uruguay’s “Patria Blanca,” owned by former senator Gallinal. 50% of the now G1 winner was purchased for U$S 26,000 at the “Venta Selección” public auction of Haras Firmamento in May 2024, organized by Antonio Bullrich S.A. The Great Racing  (The Great Day) had made an impressive debut over the mile at San Isidro, finishing second to a son of Uncle Mo  (Indian Charlie), imported in-utero by Haras Firmamento. He then returned at the same distance and surface to win by several lengths, posting the best time of the afternoon (1:37.11) over a wet-to-heavy turf course that was not yielding fast times. This time, in his first start in graded company, he entered as the betting favorite and defeated Ardiendo  (Remote), who had previously won the Criterium de Potrillos (G1). The victory of The Great Racing  (The Great Day) in the San Isidro 2,000 Guineas (G1) not only confirms his athletic quality and dominance of the 2022 crop but also brings attention to a carefully built pedigree designed to produce speed, acceleration, and the ability to sustain action through the mile. Reviewing his lineage reveals an architecture that blends the dominant influence of the not-quite-sire-of-sires Storm Cat  (Storm Bird), through Harlan’s Holiday , with stamina pillars like Roberto , Equalize , and Fappiano , all anchored by the prolific female family {6-f}, popularly known as “la familia de la E” (the E family), developed by Haras Abolengo of Mr. Julio Menditeguy. This family descends from Empiric  (Voodoo) and is responsible for champions in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Venezuela, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, France, and the United States. The strategic bet by Haras Firmamento began when it secured the third and final South American season of Harlan’s Holiday , after two earlier shuttle stints (2010 and 2011) for the Haras La Misión Stallion Station. They took on the financial risk of importing and standing an elite stallion just months before his unexpected death. It’s worth noting that La Misión had pioneered this “shuttle stallions” policy with Giant’s Causeway  in 2008–2009 and Johannesburg  in those same years, paving the way for Firmamento to join the race for global genetics. The result of this patient and selective investment is now tangible: a locally based stallion like The Great Day  has already sired The Great Racing  on his first attempt, validating the decision to allocate first-class resources to bloodlines capable of transforming the Argentine gene pool, and showing that a long-term financial commitment dating back to 2013 can crystallize in a G1 winner just a decade later. The Great Day , winner of the Polla de Potrillos (G1) in 2017, champion older horse after winning the Estrellas Classic (G1) in 2018, and G3 winner in Canada, is a son of U.S.-based Harlan’s Holiday , one of the most versatile representatives of the Storm Cat  line in South America. In The Great Day , Harlan’s Holiday’s  genetics were enhanced by the influence of Honour and Glory , a son of Relaunch  capable of adding moderate stamina. The result was a versatile athlete over distances from one mile to ten furlongs, a trait seemingly inherited by The Great Racing . When analyzing his speed DNA, one finds the duplication of Exclusive Native  through Affirmed  and the broodmare Belonging , from family {1-x}. This 5x5 duplication, one via the male line, one via the female, is a distant but valued consolidation of agility, without introducing genetic risk, as it keeps the inbreeding coefficient below 3%. The transition from racehorse to stallion requires passing the “cradle test”: that the first crop not only competes but wins at the highest level. The Great Day  passed quickly: his first foals had just turned three when The Great Racing  scored in a G1, joining three other stakes winners. Beyond statistics, The Great Day  transmits morphological uniformity: strong shoulders and backs, well-angled hindquarters, traits that sustain speed and reduce joint injuries. This phenotype matches the signature of Storm Cat  (Storm Bird) and acts as a guarantee of heritability: if multiple offspring share the athletic outline, it is highly likely the trait is genetic rather than environmental. In The Great Racing’s  pedigree, the maternal line comes through Embracing Love , a daughter of Lucky Roberto , grandson of Belong to Me , out of Embrace Moi , bred along the lines of Ride The Rails  (via Cryptoclearance , by Fappiano ). This lineage brings two complementary elements. First, the genetic depth of Roberto , introduced through both the sire and dam lines, known for improving lung capacity and stamina. Second, the North American influence of Fappiano , a line responsible for refining stride mechanics and strengthening bone. Historically, when these two streams, Roberto  and Fappiano , combine under the Northern Dancer  umbrella (via Storm Cat ), the result is runners who perform on firm tracks and react well to heavy turf, common in Buenos Aires’ springtime. It’s telling that the dam Embracing Love  had a modest racing career but excellent veterinary parameters, most notably her outstanding fertility (11 live foals from 10 matings), and is currently in foal with her 11th by Slow Down Andy  (Nyquist), the newest addition to Haras Firmamento’s stallion roster, managed by Ezequiel Valle, son of renowned veterinarian César “Coco” Valle. The “E family” or {6-f} traces back to the Argentine matron Empiric  (1966), born at Haras Abolengo. Her birth marked a turning point for the Menditeguy family’s breeding operation: she produced daughters and granddaughters capable of excelling as both racehorses and broodmares. Among her most famous descendants are Expressive Halo , Halo Ola , and Snapy Halo , all G1 winners at distances from 1,600 to 2,500 meters. This lineage has a proven ability to blend with Northern Dancer , Storm Cat , Fappiano , and Relaunch  bloodlines, validating a nicking pattern that now finds renewed strength in The Great Racing . Also from this successful Argentine family comes Rio de la Plata  (Rahy), a Godolphin-owned runner who shone over the European mile: he won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère at two, and later the Vittorio di Capua and Premio Roma. Retired in 2013, he now stands for a mid-range fee at Haras du Logis in France, where he has sired multiple black-type winners, including Thais  and Aiming For Rio , keeping the {6-f} legacy alive in Europe. Empiric  (Voodoo) is his fourth dam. The Great Racing’s  pedigree features a 5x6 Rasmussen Factor centered on Alanesian  ( Polynesian ), a duplication arising through different maternal paths and thus considered one of the “cleanest” forms of positive inbreeding. Alanesian  appears as second dam of Ride The Rails  ( Cryptoclearance  – Herbalesian ), the sire of Embrace Moi  and maternal grandsire of our colt, placing her in the fifth generation. On the sire’s side, she reappears as fourth dam of Harlan’s Holiday , via Princessnesian , positioning her in the sixth generation. The 5×6 duplication is close enough to reinforce the traits Polynesian  passed to Alanesian , but distant enough to avoid tight inbreeding. The F coefficient remains low, and the reinforcement comes through two different daughters ( Herbalesian  and Princessnesian ), allowing chromosomal variety. Additionally, this RF strengthens the proven Storm Cat × Alanesian  cross, which already produced champions like Candy Ride  and Interaction . The optimal campaign plan suggests spacing starts by five to six weeks in spring, maintaining freshness and avoiding long breaks that may disrupt development. The Great Racing  now has three starts (2-1-0), an ideal record for gradually increasing competitive intensity without overloading. The question that arose post-race was: Should The Great Racing  debut on dirt in Palermo’s Polla de Potrillos, or wait two months for the Jockey Club at San Isidro? That decision will be made by the team of Juan Franco Saldivia and Roberto Pellegata, together with owners from Stud Patria Blanca and Haras Firmamento. Remember, the 2,000 Guineas (G1) is the first leg of San Isidro’s Triple Crown, while the Polla de Potrillos (G1) is the first leg of the national Triple Crown, and the G.P. Jockey Club (G1) is the second leg of both series. His Uruguayan owner Francisco Gallinal welcoming The Great Glory with open arms as jockey William Pereyra and groom Juan Quiroga accompany him to the winner’s circle. If this colt confirms his class in upcoming major stakes, The Great Racing  will become a top candidate to join any Argentine stallion roster. Which mares would suit him? The “speed outcross” theory recommends daughters of Maxfield , Manipulator , and sires introducing Mr. Prospector . Granddaughters of Tapit  (Seattle Slew → A.P. Indy line) are also attractive for their ability to contribute height and a longer neck, which can help offset the short backs sometimes seen in Storm Cat  descendants. For breeders seeking a bolder pattern, intermediate duplications of Roberto  may be explored, taking advantage of the colt’s tolerance to that line. Alternatively, he could be crossed with Northern Dancer -loaded mares via Equal Stripes , Orpen , or Easing Along . Amid an economic storm marked by devaluations, inflation, and currency restrictions, Argentine breeders kept placing strong bets—and now they’re seeing the rewards. The 2025 freshman sire crop in Argentina reflects growing diversity of origin with closely matched results at the top of the rankings. Leading the way is U.S.-bred Gouverneur Morris  ( Constitution ), whose two G1 winners in his first crop reveal how quickly the Tapit  line can deliver precocity and mid-distance success on Argentine dirt. Argentine champion sprinter, miler, and stayer Stategos  ( Zensational ), trained by Nicolás Martín Ferro, is responsible for one G1 winner and three black-type runners. His speed-oriented Unbridled’s Song  genetics produced explosive two-turn types (1,200–1,600m), with hopes for improvement at longer distances. The Great Day  ( Harlan’s Holiday ) follows the pattern: a locally based stallion with one G1 winner and three black-types, best suited to the mile with potential to stretch out; demonstrating that the Storm Cat  line remains relevant when paired with proven stamina mares. Rounding out the quartet is Irish-bred Gidu  ( Frankel ), whose three black-type runners (but no G1 wins yet) suggest that his offspring may need more time to mature and reach peak form. In short, the success of The Great Racing  crowns a chain of bold decisions that began with the arrival of Harlan’s Holiday  in Argentina, continued with Dr. Juan Carlos Bagó’s unwavering faith in The Great Day , and culminated in the joint bet by Stud Patria Blanca and Haras Firmamento on a colt who embodies the best of Argentine breeding. His G1 victory not only validates the strategy of investing in elite stallions and matching them with the best mares but also proves that Argentina’s program, rooted in home-developed female lines, can produce a Group 1 winner on the first try. Thus, this triumph becomes a milestone that inspires the industry: it confirms the global competitiveness of local genetics, elevates the smart shuttle stallion model, and, above all, paints a future where decade-long projects come to life, even amid Argentina’s deep economic crisis, breeders continue to invest boldly in improving their bloodstock.

The news that U.S. champion Game Winner  (Candy Ride) has just arrived at Fazenda Mondesir, in Bagé (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil), shook South American turf. This is the first Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old of the Candy Ride era to cross the equator to stand at stud in Brazil, and he’s doing so at one of the country’s most historic farms, a pioneer in the importation of elite bloodlines. The champion will stand for the 2025 and 2026 Southern Hemisphere breeding seasons, with limited bookings for outside mares. He is currently undergoing quarantine to begin covering just in time for peak breeding season in the Southern Cone. Game Winner  (Candy Ride) winning the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes as a two-year-old. Fazenda Mondesir, located in the heart of the breeding hub of Rio Grande do Sul, has established itself as a destination for top stallions, following the successful stints of Ghadeer  (Lyphard) in the 1980s and more recently Agnes Gold  (Deep Impact). The arrival of Game Winner  strengthens the farm’s strategy of blending American speed lines with the European stamina influence already present in its roster through Outstrip , who is showing strong numbers from his first crop. Other notable stallions to have stood at Mondesir include Duke of Marmalade  (Vaguely Noble), Free Hand  (Gallant Man), Mark of Esteem  (Darshaan), Gilded Time  (Timeless Moment), shuttle stallion Shanghai Bobby  (Harlan’s Holiday) in 2014, and Brazil’s champion miler of the 2020–21 season, Olympic Jhonsnow  (Agnes Gold). The stallion operation, currently overseen by Dr. Paulo Bergamo with assistance from Dr. Luan Kickofel, has seen numerous top-class sires, and all signs suggest that trend will continue. Game Winner  was sold as a yearling for $110,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Sale by Lane’s End, purchased by agent Ben Glass. A son of Argentine champion Candy Ride  and the A.P. Indy mare Indyan Giving , Game Winner  was crowned U.S. Champion 2-Year-Old Male in 2018 after going undefeated in four starts, including three consecutive Grade 1 wins: the Del Mar Futurity, American Pharoah Stakes, and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; a nearly impossible streak to achieve. He retired with earnings of over $2 million after also winning the Los Alamitos Derby (G3), and finishing second in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and Santa Anita Derby (G1). He was fifth in the Kentucky Derby, beaten just 3½ lengths after a troubled trip. This rare combination of early speed and mile-plus stamina is exactly what Brazilian breeders are seeking to inject into their grass-oriented broodmare base. Retired to Lane’s End in 2021, Game Winner  debuted as a top-10 freshman sire in 2024 with 13 winners, including G1 winner Gaming . In 2025, he added “TDN Rising Star” filly Maysam  and recent Del Mar black-type winner Game Warrior . In April, at Keeneland, his son Will to Prepare  broke his maiden impressively on debut for trainer Cherie DeVaux. He now has 21 winners, placing him fifth among second-crop sires by earnings. His progeny show Candy Ride’s  long hindquarters and the powerful stride typical of A.P. Indy, traits that have produced a 55% winners-to-starters rate, well above the average for U.S. stallions. Lane’s End launched Game Winner  at a fee of $30,000 (stands & nurses), covering 131 mares in 2022, representing potential gross revenue of nearly $3.9 million. In 2023, he stood for the same fee and covered 96 mares, while in 2024 the fee dropped to $20,000, with 62 mares covered, still generating over $1.2 million in annual revenue. His first yearlings sold for up to $280,000, and the first 16 mares in foal to him sold for an average of $250,000, comfortably allowing Lane’s End to recoup its investment and establish him as a “value sire” in the $20,000 range. Brazil lacks direct representatives of Candy Ride  capable of combining precocity with dirt performance, a surface with limited relevance in Brazil. Game Winner  fills that gap as the first son of the Argentine champion to stand there. His pedigree is free of Northern Dancer  in the first five generations, offering a perfect outcross for mares descended from Drosselmeyer , Agnes Gold , or Wild Event , all of which are widespread in the region. His commercial appeal also makes each mating a dual investment: elite genetics and yearling resale potential in the U.S. market, where Southern Hemisphere-bred runners are gaining traction. If he performs in Bagé as he did in Kentucky, Game Winner  could become a major draw for Argentine and Uruguayan breeders who already send mares to Rio Grande do Sul in search of top international bloodlines. The Candy Ride × A.P. Indy  nick is known for its success (12% black-type winners from runners), potentially explained by the 4x6 Rasmussen Factor on Alanesian  (Polynesian) generated by this cross. The Argentine stallion carries Alanesian  in the 4th generation via Herbalesian , dam of his sire Ride the Rails . Meanwhile, A.P. Indy  (Seattle Slew) repeats her in the 6th generation through Boldnesian , sire of Bold Reasoning  and grandsire of Seattle Slew . The cross also avoids close Northern Dancer  inbreeding, and has Mr. Prospector  just once in early generations, leaving “genetic space” to add those lines via the dam without excessive inbreeding. The result is a practical equation: precocity + stamina + effectiveness. The 1-x branch of La Troienne  culminating in Game Winner  is an example of a “genetic staircase”: each generation adds either speed or stamina without losing the strength and fertility established by the great matron. It begins with Baby League  and her daughter Striking , who contributed the toughness of War Admiral , continues with Batter Up  ( Tom Fool ) and Bravissimo  ( Bold Ruler ), and peaks with Bravo Native  ( Restless Native ), a modest runner but dam of stakes-winner Cherokee Wonder  and granddam of millionaire Cherokees Boy . Game Winner   (Candy Ride) discovering his new home at the stallion barn of Fazenda Mondesir, Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Though Game Winner  will be based at the farm owned by Brazil’s traditional turf family, Peixoto de Castro, several top breeding operations have come together to make this project a reality for Brazilian racing. The region’s most influential breeders have joined the initiative: Haras Legacy , formerly H&R; dominant statistical leader Haras Santa Maria de Araras ; Eternamente Rio and its veterinarian Dr. Raúl, who is enthusiastic about Candy Ride’s  arrival in Brazil; JCR ; the breeder/owner of Sinsel  (Alpha), recent Gran Premio Brasil winner and generation leader, Stud Red Rafa ; Haras Fronteira and Estrela Nova (home to Arrocha  and Taareef ); Stud Embalagem ; Haras Anderson, breeder of Night of Rose , winner of the last G.P. Seabra; Atafona ; Haras Belmont ,currently excelling in Paraná; Haras Clark Leite ; Haras Cuatro Piedras from Uruguay, led by Dr. Ulisses Lignon Carneiro; Stud Hulk ; Mondesir itself; Haras Do Morro ; Haras Old Friends , owned by ABCPCC president Julinho Camargo; Stud Quintella ; Santa Rita da Serra , enjoying good results with Sangarius ; and Haras Di Cellius in Bagé, run by Dr. Igor Kickofel. These 20 participants will support Game Winner  over the next two breeding seasons in Brazil. We believe Game Winner  will have great success in Brazil. The Candy Ride  line has already succeeded in Argentina with Señor Candy , in Uruguay with Sloane Avenue , in the U.S. with Gun Runner , and continues to grow with Vekoma  and current freshman sire Rock Your World . Why wouldn’t the same success happen in Brazil? Backed by solid commercial performance in the demanding U.S. market, already a G1-producing stallion, and supported by twenty top breeding farms in the region, Game Winner  has all the ingredients to replicate Candy Ride’s  legacy in the Southern Cone. If his breeding program is executed as planned, Brazil will take another major step toward filling its genetic pool’s gap in speed and precocity.