Colifato Novo debuts a new jockey in pursuit of adding a new classic victory on the turf

Lautaro Balmaceda will replace the injured Iván Monasterolo in the irons of the champion this Sunday in the Southern Halo

In the continuation of a weekend without major classics, but an entertaining one nonetheless, Sunday will be the turn of Hipódromo de San Isidro, where, among several races for 2-year-olds and other high-quality allowance races, the Clásico Southern Halo (G3) will capture all eyes.

Set over 1,400 meters on the turf—perhaps soft—and on the diagonal, it will be the stage for the return to competition of the champion Colifato Novo, after a two-and-a-half-month break. The best 2-year-old of his generation, the son of Lenovo arrives tuned for this new challenge after winning in 3 of his last 4 performances, including the Clásico Pedro Chapar (G3), Clásico Invasor (G3), and Clásico Horacio Bustillo (G2). In his most recent outing, he defeated Qué Tarde Gris (Il Campione), the champion Earth God (Cosmic Trigger), and Don Latido (John F Kennedy), among others, by 2 lengths.

For Colifato Novo, there will be a significant change, as Lautaro Balmaceda will take over the responsibility following the accident suffered a few days ago by Iván Monasterolo, his regular jockey.

A bold front-runner with a strong finish, the bay from Stud El Ranquel, one of the most popular horses in the country, will face rivals of all kinds. Among them is Gardel Pass (Distinctiv Passion), winner of the 2025 Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (G1), who returns quickly just 10 days after unexpectedly finishing last in the Gran Premio de las Américas - OSAF (G1). That performance should be discarded as too poor to be true, and if Walter Suárez and María F. Alvarezdecide to seek revenge so soon, they must have their reasons.

Juan Saldivia will present Río New (Hurricane Cat), on the rise after a 4-length victory over Viejo Varieté (Qué Vida Buena)—another confirmed runner—in the Clásico Mesa del Senado (L).

At Stud Pauli, there are high hopes for Envidioso Frank (Gidu), with 3 wins in 5 starts, the most recent being a 5-length score in a tough allowance race in the south. El Ernesto (Señor Candy), Royal Rimout (Remote), and Stormy River(Le Blues) round out a group that generates great enthusiasm.