Don Feres Looks to Make His Mark in the History of the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo

The Peruvian Champion Aims for Glory in Sunday’s G1 at San Isidro Following Two Brave Performances on Local Turf

Don Feres Will Seek His First International Victory at San Isidro / JCP

One of the crown jewels of the Argentine racing calendar takes center stage this Sunday at Hipódromo de San Isidro. The Gran Premio 25 de Mayo (G1) — a storied 2400-meter turf contest — embodies deep tradition and patriotic pride, a race every owner dreams of conquering.

As the second most important race for older horses on the Jockey Club turf calendar after the illustrious Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1), the 25 de Mayo has regained its prestige in recent years after a period of obscurity. Now grouped alongside the Gran Premio de Potrancas (G1), Gran Criterium (G1), and this year’s addition of the Clásico Santiago Lawrie (G3), the event has once again captured the hearts of racing enthusiasts—even if the weather tends to be cold or rainy when the race comes around. Whether the forecast will hold or prove wrong remains to be seen.

The 2025 edition features a competitive field of 10 hopefuls, though the late scratch of Grezzo (Hi Happy) due to a minor physical issue means the race loses one of its brightest stars. Consequently, the spotlight shines brightly on Peruvian champion Don Feres, who aims to emulate the feat of Al Qasr (Aptitude) — a U.S.-bred with a campaign in Monterrico — by conquering this iconic race.

Both share a common denominator in trainer Juan Suárez Villarroel, widely regarded as the “Jorge Ricardo of trainers” and the winningest trainer worldwide, who is eager to secure his second victory in this race. His confidence in the powerful grey is unwavering.

There are many reasons for optimism surrounding Don Feres. Nearly invincible in Peru, he has two prior attempts on San Isidro turf—finishing second to Doutor Sureño (Agnes Gold) in the 2023 Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) and third behind Intense for Me (Fortify) and El Kodigo (Equal Stripes) in the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (G1) last December, where traffic trouble arguably denied him a higher placing.

Could the third time be the charm for the Singe the Turf colt from Stud Jet Set? Very likely. To ensure peak acclimation and no excuses, he was brought to Argentina weeks ago and paired with local jockey Martín Valle.

However, challenges remain: the pace scenario and track condition are key unknowns. With no clear front-runner, the race’s tempo is uncertain, and Don Feres could even be forced to lead if others don’t press. The soft turf condition poses another question mark, especially given his large frame and how he might handle yielding ground.

Top opposition includes Out of the Blue (Brz-Drosselmeyer), winner of the prep Clásico Porteño (G3); Acento Final (Treasure Beach) and Honest Boy (Heliostatic), the 1-2 finishers in the Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1) seeking to rebound; the dependable Touch the Stars (Fortify), runner-up here last year who returns after a 282-day layoff; Endo Verde (Endorsement), hero of the Gran Premio Vicente Dupuy (G3) in La Punta; El Pulque (Heliostatic), runner-up in the Porteño; and the mare Knows All (Le Blues), looking to leverage the distance in her favor to make history.

The Gran Premio 25 de Mayo is just around the corner, promising an edition full of excitement and stakes for all the right reasons.