Colorado del Monte confirmed sold to continue his campaign in Dubai

The top colt born in 2024 was acquired by Vermaak Equine and will compete for a new syndicate in the United Arab Emirates; his absence from the Polla had already sparked surprise, and now the definitive explanation has been found

The absence of Colorado del Monte from the entry list for the Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (G1) had drawn widespread attention. The top representative of the generation, absolute master of the scene over the last few months, had not been entered to kick off the Triple Crown this Saturday at Palermo Racecourse, a decision that inevitably fueled all kinds of rumors.

Finally, the mystery has been resolved: the son of Strategos was sold and will continue his campaign in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, after being acquired by Vermaak Equine for a new syndicate. Thus begins a completely different chapter for the gray colt, who leaves the country as the premier benchmark among 3-year-olds born in 2023.

The transaction was confirmed by the buying agency itself, which described Colorado del Monte as one of Argentina's top young stars and highlighted his status as a dual G1 winner. The financial details of the transfer were not disclosed.

Bred by Haras El Paraíso and previously racing for Stud Facundito, Colorado del Monte was trained by Nicolás Martín Ferro and always had Gustavo Calvente in the irons. His local campaign was brief, but enough to leave an enormous impression and establish a dominance that, at times, appeared overwhelming.

In linear terms, he crossed the wire first in all 4 of his starts. He debuted with a victory over 1500 meters on the Palermo dirt and then finished first again in the Gran Premio Montevideo (G1), although that afternoon he was disqualified and placed third for interference in the stretch. Far from being affected by that ruling, he resurfaced on the San Isidro turf and delivered a crowning performance in the Gran Premio Estrellas Juvenile (G1), prevailing by 4 lengths.

Colorado del Monte later confirmed his leadership in the Gran Premio Dos Mil Guineas (G1), once again over the northern turf mile, where he controlled the race from the start and held off the late charge of Barto (Pneumatic) by 3/4 of a length. That victory, his second consecutive at the highest level, firmly established him as the top colt of the season.

His ability to perform on both dirt and turf, combined with his natural speed and the maturity he displayed from his earliest outings, quickly sparked international interest. Vermaak Equine ultimately finalized a deal that deprives Argentine racing of one of its most attractive figures, but offers the horse the opportunity to showcase his talent in one of the most competitive racing hubs in the world.

The confirmation of his departure also completely alters the landscape for the Polla de Potrillos. With Colorado del Monte out of the way, Fletcher (Gershwin) now emerges as the heavy favorite to claim the first jewel of the Triple Crown following his crushing victory in the Clásico Miguel Cané (G2). Autorretrato (Angiolo), winner of the Polla de Potrillos (G3) at La Plata, will be another major contender in a race that will inevitably feel the absence of the leader.

For Strategos, Colorado del Monte quickly became one of the finest runners from his young stallion career. Out of Seductive Voice, by Sebi Halo, he belongs to a crop that definitively established the Haras El Paraíso champion among the most consolidated young sires in the country.

Argentina is left without its primary Triple Crown contender, but gains another top-class representative abroad. Colorado del Monte will head to Dubai with a nearly flawless record and the challenge of proving, now far from home, that the superiority he displayed here can carry over against international rivals. The news leaves a massive void in the generation and, at the same time, builds huge expectation for his future.