Franco Menéndez Shined with a Treble at La Plata and Crowned the Afternoon with the Morales

The jockey enjoyed an ideal afternoon, headlined by Xurra's victory; he is enjoying his best season to date and already has four graded wins to his credit this year

LA PLATA.- Tuesday's meeting at Hipódromo de La Plata belonged to one rider: Franco Menéndez. The jockey is currently navigating the finest spell of his career and validated that form with a standout performance, sweeping three victories and landing the featured event on the card by taking the Clásico Miguel Luis Morales (G2) aboard Xurra, the promising daughter of Forge trained by Ángel Piana.

The rider opened his account with the filly before doubling up aboard Forty Codringer (Empire Aztec) and closing out the hat-trick with Merle Oberon (Equal Talent), a brilliant afternoon that underscores the stellar current campaign of the former 2020 Apprentice Jockey of the Year who made his professional debut back in 2019.

The victory aboard Xurra carried a particularly sweet taste, as the filly entered off an unexpected defeat in allowance company—an outing for which Menéndez offered a clear explanation. "She did everything right. I went looking for the rail because the track was a bit firmer down there. We sat third and fourth, she helped me a lot, kept creeping closer, and before turning into the stretch I had them right in target. She finished off tremendously."

The jockey also highlighted the work done by Ángel Piana's team to iron out the issues that had compromised the dark bay's previous start.

"Last time out, when she lost in allowance company, she was ready to win, but she got a bit nervous behind the gate and burned up a lot of energy back there. But this time the trainer found the key, and she gave her best effort."

With the stakes victory secured, Menéndez preferred not to get ahead of himself regarding the filly's upcoming targets, though he acknowledged that the Gran Premio Polla de Potrancas loom as a natural next step on the horizon.

"They're young fillies and still need to mature, but this time she really showed what she's made of and how useful she is. Now we'll see what the trainer decides for her future; I know the Polla is there, but that will be his call. Ángel Pianaalways keeps me in mind, and I can't thank him enough—him and his entire barn, of course."

Tuesday's performance stands as a true reflection of the banner year Menéndez is piecing together. With just seven seasons of professional competition under his belt, the rider is enjoying the most consistent stretch of his trajectory. He has already accumulated three Group wins on the season, earning an increasing number of high-profile mounts while delivering with a regularity that has made him one of the fastest-rising names in the La Plata jockey room.

The treble notched via Forty Codringer, Merle Oberon, and Xurra did more than just boost his season stats; it once again showcased his versatility in handling different race setups while maximizing each runner's strengths. That tactic was especially evident with Xurra, where he opted for a patient ride, found the best ground along the inside rail, and waited for the precise moment to launch a winning bid.

Following his recognition as the top apprentice in the country in 2020 came years of steady consolidation. Today, armed with added experience and confidence, Franco Menéndez is turning early promise into concrete results, proving that his name is firmly established in the present landscape of Argentine racing—and that, if he maintains this momentum, the sky remains the limit.