El Romancero Switches to Dirt to Face Tough Rivals in the Grandes Fustas

The son of Il Campione will rely on his late kick in Monday’s Handicap at Palermo, carrying just 55 kilos

El Romancero has been holding his own in tough turf races / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

With the excitement of last Saturday’s events starting to fade, racing returns to Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo on Monday with a much more modest program in terms of quality. The 14-race card is anchored by the Handicap Grandes Fustas, a 1000-meter dash for 5-year-olds and up, offering a purse of 5,800,000 pesos to the winner—barely above what is paid out in condition races.

A field of eight has been entered, and several bring solid credentials to the table, led by El Romancero (Il Campione), who will carry a puzzlingly light 55 kilos as he looks to take advantage of his customary late kick while switching from turf to dirt.

After dead-heating for first in the Clásico Necochea (L) with Camuflaje (Orpen), he finished a close third, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths by Hiran (Santillano) and Opreso (Endorsement) in the Clásico Lamadrid (L), underlining his sharp current form.

Among his chief rivals is Aires de Gloria (Angiolo, 59.5), who exits a narrow three-quarter-length defeat to El Gran Caballo (Le Blues) in a condition race. A winner of both the Clásico Prensa Hípica (L) and the Handicap Día del Médico Veterinario, he also ran third in the Clásico Diamond Jubilee.

En Un Rincón (Manipulator, 60) also boasts strong back class. Victorious in the Clásico Coronel Pringles (G3), he later finished third, just 3/4 lengths behind Aires de Gloria, in the Prensa Hípica.

El Gran Caballo (57), who made a winning return from a short break in his latest, now makes his third attempt at the stakes level.

Another with proven stakes form is Bank One (Lenovo, 55.5), successful in the Clásico Juan Lapistoy, fourth in the Clásico Santiago Lawrie (G3), and runner-up in the Handicap Emigrant, showing versatility both around a turn and down the straight.

The lightweight Santo Federal (Santillano, 53) and Pan y Circo (Qué Vida Buena, 56.5) complete the field, the latter looking to get back on track under a favorable impost.