Calvente and Khamal, a perfect partnership, captured the National Derby at Monterrico
- Turf Diario
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The Argentine jockey delivered a masterful ride to guide Chilean-bred Khamal to a dominant victory in the Peruvian Triple Crown finale, confirming him as the undisputed leader of his generation
MONTERRICO, Peru (Special for Turf Diario) – The Derby Nacional (G1) already had an owner before the colts even straightened for home. And that owner was Khamal, a son of Mendelssohn bred at Haras Jockey de Chile, who, under a masterful ride from Argentine jockey Gustavo Calvente, crowned himself the best 3-year-old in Peru with a performance full of class and future promise in the country’s most emblematic race.
Khamal had already been sending strong signals. After capturing the Clásico Ricardo Ortiz de Zevallos (G2), the second jewel of the Crown, and displacing favorite Efe Jota (Meal Penalty) on that occasion, it was clear he was coming into the Derby with real ambition. What no one foresaw was just how decisive the outcome would be: he left his rivals 8 1/4 lengths behind, with the unmistakable feeling that there is still plenty more to come.
From the break, Calvente did everything to perfection. He positioned Khamal among the leaders, tracking Puppi’s Husband (Fortify), but without engaging in the early battle that often brings unnecessary wear. The Argentine kept his mount calm throughout, reading the race with surgical precision.
“He traveled very comfortably all the way, with total ease,” Calvente would later say.And that was exactly how it looked.
Midway around the turn, Khamal emerged like a colt with an extra engine. Calvente only had to ask him slightly, and the bay responded like a different animal, taking control of the race before they even straightened for home and leaving the rest without answers.
When Efe Jota attempted to make up ground in the stretch, it was already too late. Khamal was full of running, completely dominant, with that “second wind” his rider had described. The verdict was emphatic.
The victory left several certainties behind.First, that Khamal is not only the leader of his generation, but a serious candidate for what’s next: the Gran Premio Nacional, the fourth and final Crown jewel.Second, that Stud Doña Licha made a brilliant decision by specifically hiring Calvente for the Triple Crown series.And third—perhaps the most exciting—that Peru may well have in Khamal a genuine standard-bearer for the next Gran Premio Latinoamericano, due to be staged once again at Monterrico in 2026.
Always gracious and marked by a humility that matches his talent, Calvente spoke clearly after dismounting:
“I had a lot of confidence in him. He traveled beautifully and in the straight he was unstoppable. On the backstretch I already knew I was winning. When I let him relax, he produced an extraordinary finish. He still has much more to give. He’s going to keep improving.”
The admiration is hardly surprising. Calvente is a proven jockey, with a strong career in Argentina and winner of the 2020 Gran Premio Latinoamericano aboard Tetaze (Equal Stripes). But he is also a professional who has earned the affection of the Peruvian crowd through his simplicity and approachability.
The entire team deserves applause: trainer Raphael Herrera, the staff of Stud Doña Licha, owner Óscar Peña, and the exercise rider who proudly posed in the winner’s photo. But the afternoon had two undisputed protagonists: Khamal, a colt overflowing with class, and Gustavo Calvente, a jockey who once again proved that on the biggest stages, he is a true specialist.
Monterrico has found its champion.And Peruvian racing, a towering hope for what lies ahead.
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