Don Zahir proved absolute master of the La Plata mile in a stellar performance
The favorite asserted early control over Storm Sound from the break and, upon straightening for home, kicked clear to score by 3 lengths in the Clásico Hipódromo de La Plata (G3). Rodrigo Blanco delivered another masterclass in the irons
LA PLATA, Argentina (Special for Turf Diario).— Don Zahir left no room for doubt. He seized the lead the moment the gates flew open, comfortably withstood the constant pressure applied by Storm Sound (Hi Happy), and ultimately dominated the Clásico Hipódromo de La Plata (G3-1600m, dirt) with authority in Tuesday’s feature event at El Bosque.
The chestnut representative of Stud El Basti justified his favoritism with a commanding performance, proving once again his affinity for the La Plata main track while capturing the biggest victory of his career. Rated with complete composure by Rodrigo Blanco, he found in the veteran jockey the perfect partner to harness his early speed and build a winning margin.
From the break, the son of Daddy Long Legs made his intentions clear. Breaking sharply, he immediately took charge, with Storm Sound settling nearby to keep him honest. The race turned into a two-horse battle, with the favorite controlling the tempo and his challenger attempting to press the pace.
However, despite keeping close tabs on the pacemaker through the middle stages, Storm Sound never truly threatened to turn the tables. Blanco kept Don Zahir in a comfortable rhythm throughout, conserving energy for the real running. Once they straightened into the home stretch, the frontrunner switched gears and effortlessly began to pull away.
From that point on, the contest was over. Don Zahir widened his margin with every stride, crossing the wire with 3 lengths to spare over Storm Sound, who ran a commendable race but simply bumped into a superior rival on the day. Well back in third, a further 8 lengths behind, El Ernesto (Señor Candy) completed the pay window, failing to replicate the form that saw him defeat the winner in the Clásico 25 de Mayo de 1810 (G2) and having to settle for a distant third this time.
Seek Wave (Seek Again) finished fourth, another 1 1/2 lengths back, while Tryman (Safety Check), regarded as one of the primary dangers to the favorite, produced a effort well below expectations. The recent winner of the Clásico General José de San Martín (G3) was never a factor in the outcome, finishing fifth, 4 lengths behind fourth and 16 1/2 lengths adrift of the winner.
The final time stopped by Don Zahir was a very sharp 1m37s63/100 over a fast dirt track, a clocking that perfectly complemented a flawless performance.
Much of the credit goes to Rodrigo Blanco, who is enjoying a brilliant run of form. The experienced jockey returned to the irons relatively recently, yet he is already riding at his absolute peak, reading races perfectly and displaying his trademark class. On this occasion, he understood the importance of utilizing his mount's natural speed, allowing him to run freely before asking for the decisive response.
Bred by Haras San Benito, Don Zahir is conditioned by the team of Juan Sebastián and Juan Carlos Maldotti. Officially presented by the former, this victory raised his career record to 6 wins from 15 starts—including two stakes triumphs—with total earnings exceeding 51 million pesos.
Out of Doña Gloria (Honour and Glory), he is a half-brother to three-time handicap winner Don Desatino (Mount Nelson). His pedigree traces back to a highly prolific family, the same line responsible for Group 1 heroine Mecha Corta (El Corredor); Group 2 winner Don Platense (Not for Sale); and Gran Estreno (Lucky Roberto), winner of the Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1) who later went on to become a graded stakes winner in the United States.
