Correas and Saldivia: A High-Class Partnership Fueling Sarawak Rim’s Distaff Dream
- Turf Diario
- Jul 16
- 3 min read
The Argentine-bred mare, winner of the Criadores, arrived today at Keeneland, where she will be prepared for a start in the upcoming Breeders’ Cup this November at Del Mar
By Diego H. Mitagstein
The dream is officially underway. Sarawak Rim, the filly who rose to prominence with her victory in the Gran Premio Criadores (G1) on May 1 at Palermo, has arrived in the United States with an ambitious yet achievable target in mind: a start in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on November 1 at Del Mar.
The daughter of Remote traveled in recent days under the care of her owners and arrived in perfect condition at Keeneland on Wednesday, July 16, where she is now stabled with Ignacio Correas IV, who will oversee her preparation.
“She arrived very well – strong, with a good attitude. She looks comfortable and is resting nicely,” said Correas from Kentucky, visibly enthusiastic about his new trainee. “We’re going to take things slowly and patiently. The goal is clear, but there’s no need to rush. Time is on our side. I don’t think we’ll manage to fit in a prep race before the Breeders’ Cup, but we’ll see how everything goes.”
Correas won’t be alone in this endeavor. Juan Saldivia, who trained Sarawak Rim throughout her Argentine campaign, will also play a key role, sharing his in-depth knowledge of the filly. For Saldivia, this journey carries a special meaning, offering him a form of redemption after the disappointment he experienced in 2023 when his star Belleza de Arteaga (Cosmic Trigger), also qualified for the Distaff through the Challenge Series, was unable to compete at Santa Anita due to physical issues.
“We’re here to contribute, to support, to work as a team with Nacho and his staff. I’ll try to add everything I can about her,” Saldivia said.
Sarawak Rim’s victory in the Criadores, where she convincingly defeated Martana (Fortify), not only gave her the first graded win of her career but also secured her an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, which offers winners of select races worldwide a guaranteed spot and travel incentives.
Since the Challenge Series began including South American races, several Argentine-bred mares have used their Criadores victories to take a shot at the world stage.
The Distaff holds a deep connection with Argentine racing, having been won by Bayakoa (Consultant’s Bid) twice, Paseana (Ahmad), and Blue Prize (Pure Prize), the latter trained by Correas himself when she defeated champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute). In 2022, Blue Stripe (Equal Stripes), campaigned by Pozo de Luna, came within half a head of victory in a thrilling photo finish against Malathaat (Curlin) at Keeneland, with Clairiere (Curlin) just behind.
In 2024, it was Che Evasora (Greenspring) who represented Argentina in the Distaff after her Criadores win, though she faced a tough field led by Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), who went on to be named Horse of the Year in the U.S.
As Sarawak Rim begins her journey toward the Breeders’ Cup, she will benefit from the expertise of the Correas team, renowned for their success with South American mares in the U.S. Beyond Blue Prize, Correas has also trained the Argentine-bred Didia (Orpen), third in last year’s Filly & Mare Turf (G1), and the Chilean-bred Le Da Vida(Gemologist), third in the 2023 Distaff.
For Sarawak Rim, another dream begins – not just for her owners but for the entirety of Argentine and South American racing. The mission is far from simple: she will need to arrive at her peak to be competitive. But faith and ability are in abundant supply within her team. In every sense.
