Comando Secreto’s heart never tires of opening up to the public
- Turf Diario
- hace 2 horas
- 3 Min. de lectura
Nearing 8 years of age, the marvelous miler from Stud Sixa claimed victory in the Clásico El Virtuoso (G2) this Monday at Palermo
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Special for Turf Diario).– Around the world, veteran horses are defining an era, drawing crowds, and generating a buzz across racetracks and social media. There is the case of Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) making history in Hong Kong; Rebel's Romance (Dubawi) reaching his 21st victory in Meydan; Constitution Hill (Blue Bresil) switching from hurdles to the flat at age 9 and filling Southwell in England; or a Forever Young (Real Steel) who, while not as old, has been spreading his talent across the turf planet for years.
Long—and successful—campaigns allow the public to fall in love with a particular horse, to follow it, and to become true fans. This passion spreads to others, horse racing enthusiasts or not, who come to watch and clap until their hands are red. It is impossible to become a "crack" or an idol in just 2, 4, or 6 races. More time is needed for fans to cultivate their passion and for the numbers to do their work. Because the numbers are always the numbers.
Well, in this global raid of "cool old-timers," Argentina has a few examples—distances aside—like Comando Secreto. Even as the calendar marks that he will soon turn 8 years old, he continues to run like a colt, charging with his usual strength and achieving victories that earn applause and reverence.
The son of War Command gave another demonstration of his enviable longevity this Monday at the Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, winning the Clásico El Virtuoso (G3-1600m, normal dirt), a key stepping stone toward the great challenge of the Gran Premio de las Américas - OSAF (G1) on May 1st.
To understand the immense status of the Stud Sixa horse, it’s worth noting that when he debuted in late 2021, Majority Wins (Master of Hounds), his runner-up, was still in his mother's womb; or that during his unforgettable victory in the Gran Premio Palermo (G1) in November 2023, most of the rivals he faced here had not even debuted yet. That is the magnitude of his value.
One of the keys to Comando Secreto's ability to keep performing at such a high level is the daily work of Wálter Suárez and María F. Alvarez. They know him perfectly, they know what to ask of him and what not to, and they don't try to reinvent anything: the mile and its surroundings, no further demands.
In a marvelous moment of his career, Gonzalo Borda hopped on the bay for the first time and understood him perfectly, bringing him into action in the homestretch after Preston Boss (Holy Boss) had already displaced a very weak Don Zahir (Daddy Long Legs) from the lead.
When Comando Secreto kicked gear, everyone could guess the ending; it was only a matter of time before he surged past his rival toward the wire, arriving with a 1 1/2-length advantage over the gray, who was later disqualified to third place in favor of Majority Wins for clear interference during the closing stages.
Bred by Haras Santa Elena, Comando Secreto clocked 1m37s10/100 for the distance—one of the best times of the afternoon on a track that has been very tough for months. He now boasts a record of 9 wins in 42 starts, with earnings of nearly 100,000,000 pesos (if the numbers are the numbers, this one reflects the current economic poverty...).
Comando Secreto laughs at the calendar, wins, and garners applause. Without a doubt, he is a horse that makes himself easy to love.
