Featuring Pablo Falero as a special guest, Ave Royal shined at Maroñas

The jockey was in Montevideo for the stakes race held in his honor; the son of Sloane Avenue captured the Clásico Asamblea de la Florida (G3)

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (Special for Turf Diario).— It was a truly special Sunday at Hipódromo Nacional de Maroñas, featuring the latest renewal of the Gran Premio Asamblea General de la Florida (G3-2,200 m, yielding turf) as the headline event, alongside a visit from Pablo Gustavo Falero, the legendary jockey who was on hand for the race run in his honor every season.

Ave Royale emerged as the grand hero of the afternoon, defeating most of the region's premier older horses, though he was upstaged in the realm of crowd appeal by the magnetism of the champion rider, who drew all eyes throughout the day.

Returning to the son of Sloane Avenue, his victory was nothing short of formidable. Carrying the colors of Invasor—those of Stud 3 de Enero—he traveled comfortably behind front-runners Zelenski (Vineyard Haven) and Galikovic(Goldikovic), struck to the lead without being asked as they hit the home stretch, and staved off all late chargers.

He established a one-length margin over Native Extreme (Emcee), the winner of the latest Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez (G1), but the latter was disqualified and placed third for causing interference to Elon Musk (Some In Tieme), who inherited the runner-up spot.

The disappointment of the race was Galikovic, making his first local appearance following his brilliant second behind the Chilean runner Teao (Ya Primo) in the Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) at Monterrico in Peru. He managed only a fifth-place finish, 3 3/4 lengths behind the winner. The final time was recorded in 2m21s32/100 following moderate fractions. Javier Pérez held the reins aboard the winner, who was presented by Víctor Tabarez and bred by Haras Firmamento.

Pablo Hernández, owner of Ave Royale, later remarked: "He was a slight horse, not highly touted, whom we purchased in October. I asked the breeders to sell me his brother this year, but cheap. Right from the start he moved well, and in his second start he began to stand out for his grit; he never quits. It is a immense joy, and racing constantly renews your hope every season, bringing you either excitement or heartbreak. We used to lose all the time, and now we are winning."

In the Clásico Pablo Falero (1,600 m, turf) for 2-year-old colts, Perdido No Espaco (Emcee) secured victory by 3/4 of a length over Uno Macho (Creative Cause); meanwhile, in the Clásico Antonio Marsiglia (1,600 m, turf) for 2-year-old fillies, the heroine was Blue Paradise (Pimper's Paradise), who scored by 2 1/2 lengths over UR Glamurous(T.H. Approval).

Finally, the card also featured the Handicap Especial Osvaldo Martínez (1,100 m, dirt), where La Sobrina(Trinniberg) brought all her class to bear, proving victorious by 3/4 of a length over Have a Break (Can the Man) while carrying a crushing 68-kilogram high weight.