El Epecuén Emerges as the Standout Star in the Clásico Diamond Jubilee Preview

The outstanding son of Il Campione, who signed off his previous campaign with a brilliant victory in the prestigious Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires (G1), returns to action as the overwhelming favorite

In the midst of a divisional transition following the retirement of three-time champion Labrado (Le Blues), the local sprinting ranks now revolve around two major stars. On one side stands Le Cornette (Emmanuel), the leader of the moment and fresh winner of the Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint (G1) contested just two weeks ago over the grass at Hipódromo de San Isidro.

On the other side is El Epecuén, who bypassed the Fundación Equina Argentina festival but returns to action this Friday as the central figure in an attractive card at Hipódromo de Palermo, topping a field of nine runners in the Clásico Diamond Jubilee (L-1000m, dirt).

Since dropping back to pure sprint distances, the profile of the son of Il Campione has transformed entirely, allowing him to capture two prestigious Group 1 events. The first came last November in the Gran Premio Maipú (G1), while his most recent appearance on May 1 saw him lift the trophy in the Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires (G1), proving superior to the absolute elite of the division on both occasions.

A colt that always carried high expectations of going far, he ultimately found his true home in pure speed, and he now kicks off the second half of his campaign aiming to maintain peak condition ahead of the major targets on the horizon. Whether any of his eight rivals can pull off an upset remains to be seen; under normal racing conditions, it appears highly unlikely, though as the old racing adage goes, anything can happen once the gates open.

Heading the list of challengers looking to spring a surprise is Lyon (Le Blues), who enters the frame following a succession of competitive efforts in graded sprints, demonstrating steady progression. In his most recent outing, he finished a close fourth, just 1 1/4 lengths behind Camuflaje (Orpen), in the Clásico Santiago Lawrie (G3) at San Isidro.

Aires de Gloria (Angiolo), Peso Argentino (Le Blues), En Un Rincón (Manipulator), and La Farce (Emmanuel) also bring solid credentials to the race, though their recent form has come against less demanding company.

The field is completed by the progressive Claro Bombón (Claro Oscuro), who boasts an encouraging record of three victories from just four career starts.