El Exito, Need You Tonight, Obataye or The Gladiator’s Hat: Who Will Be Named 2025 Horse of the Year in Argentina?

Carlos Pellegrini Awards Set for Tonight; Charm Controversially Left Out of the Running; The 47th edition of Argentina’s top honors will be presented this evening, with debate sparked by the surprising omission of a leading contender

Obataye Emerges as Leading Horse of the Year Candidate / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The day has arrived. Tonight, Argentine racing will honor its 2025 champions at the 47th edition of the Carlos Pellegrini Awards, scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth floor of the main grandstand at San Isidro Racecourse.

The Horse of the Year title—the most prestigious of all—features four contenders this time, three local runners and one international challenger: El Exito (Il Campione), Need You Tonight (Hat Ninja), Brazilian standout Obataye(Courtier), and The Gladiator’s Hat (Hat Ninja). From this group, the winner will be selected in what shapes up as a close vote—one that has already sparked debate due to the surprising absence of Charm (Strategos), widely considered a leading candidate to sweep the filly categories and contend for Mare of the Year. When those entrusted with voting fail to apply consistent criteria, these types of controversies inevitably arise.

The homebred filly for Triple Alliance will instead target Mare of the Year honors against Knows All (Le Blues), Coni Fizz (Marconi) and Moon Frank (Gidu). At the same time, she appears poised to dominate both the Champion 2-Year-Old Filly and Champion 3-Year-Old Filly categories. In the former, she faces Roshita (Gouverneur Morris) and Sarzana Pass (Distinctiv Passion), while in the latter she is up against Doña Vainilla (Il Campione) and Moon Frank.

Among the colts, the picture is far more open. For Champion 2-Year-Old Male, the nominees are Amor de Contramano (Gouverneur Morris), Ardiendo (Remote) and Drive Joy (Fortify). The Champion 3-Year-Old Male title will be contested by Gardel Pass (Distinctiv Passion), Gordianus (Señor Candy) and Real Rim (Remote).

Champion Older Mare will be decided between Coni Fizz, Knows All and Martana (Fortify), while the Champion Older Horse category includes El Exito, Need You Tonight and Obataye. For Champion Sprinter, the finalists are El Fortín (Il Campione), Labrado (Le Blues)—seeking a fourth consecutive title—and Le Cornette (Emmanuel).

In the Champion Miler division, the nominees are El Exito, Earth God (Cosmic Trigger), Storm Sound (Hi Happy) and What a Man (Mastercraftsman), while the Champion Stayer title will be decided between Need You Tonight, Obataye and The Gladiator’s Hat.

The Jockey of the Year award will be contested by Kevin Banegas, Martín Valle and Lucrecia Carabajal. For Apprentice Jockey of the Year, the nominees are Lucas González, Martín Montoya and Wilfrido Torres Maldonado, while Carlos D. Etchechoury, Nicolás Martín Ferro and Juan Franco Saldivia will compete for Trainer of the Year honors.

The remaining categories include:

• Broodmare of the Year: En Exceso (Easing Along), Roman Princess (Roman Ruler) and Spsurfi’n USA(Crimson Tide)

• Stallion of the Year: Fortify (Distorted Humor), Il Campione (Scat Daddy) and Strategos (Zensational)

• Owner of the Year: Firmamento, Gran Muñeca and Haras El Ángel de Venecia

• Breeder of the Year: El Paraíso, Firmamento and Gran Muñeca

• Broodmare Sire of the Year: Easing Along (Storm Cat), Not for Sale (Parade Marshal) and Orpen (Lure)

As tradition dictates, the Pellegrini of the Year will be selected exclusively by Juan Villar Urquiza, president of the Jockey Club Argentino.

All eyes now turn to San Isidro, where the Argentine racing community will gather to celebrate excellence—and settle one of the most debated Horse of the Year races in recent memory.