Hi Pocho: a Gran Premio Nacional to remember

The son of Hi Happy crushed Cahuel Win by 13 lengths, completed a one-two finish for trainer Marcelo Sueldo, and was crowned the top colt of 2026. Iván Monasterolo savored a dream victory in front of a packed Palermo crowd

BY DIEGO H. MITAGSTEIN

Watching a 13-length victory in the Gran Premio Nacional (G1) is hardly an everyday sight—even less so when the winner crosses the wire looking as though he still has plenty left in the tank. Hi Pocho transformed the Argentine Derby into a display of dominance rarely witnessed in a race of this stature, closing out the Triple Corona with an extraordinary statement of authority and leaving one certainty beyond debate: the title of champion three-year-old colt of the season belongs exclusively to him.

The chestnut representing Stud El Gran Robert entered off a runner-up finish behind Stay Tune (Fortify) in the Gran Premio Jockey Club (G1) on the San Isidro turf, following an earlier triumph in the Clásico Ensayo (G3). While he had already showcased high class and an affinity for route distances, he still faced two unanswered questions: handling the dirt surface and proving his mettle over the most demanding 2,500-meter test on the calendar. He passed both exams with startling ease.

Tolve (Daddy Long Legs) went out to set the tempo while Hi Pocho tracked closely from second. Iván Monasterolowisely recognized there was no need to get locked into an early speed duel; he let the pacesetter do the work until midway through the far turn, where his mount was already tugging for rein. Seizing command before even straightening into the stretch, Hi Pocho turned the remainder of the contest into something resembling a morning breeze, widening his advantage with every stride while the rest of the field battled futilely against a shadow pulling relentlessly away.

What stood out most was not merely the final margin, but the effortless manner in which it was built. Hi Pocho never needed to be asked for his best, galloping powerfully under the line virtually wrapped up. Thirteen lengths back came Cahuel Win (Gershwin), turning in a highly commendable effort to complete a one-two sweep for trainer Marcelo Sueldo, with Azul representative Sátrapa (Pneumatic) finishing a solid third, another length and a half behind. Heavy favorite Stay Tune settled for fourth, 16 lengths off the winner, completely outmatched by the winner’s tour de force.

For Sueldo, the outcome carried special resonance. Once again atop the trainers' standings at La Plata and a perennial force in the country’s premier stakes events, he capped a remarkable campaign by saddling the top two finishers in the generation’s signature classic. Cahuel Win, piloted by Gonzalo Borda, proved a worthy runner-up, while Hi Pochosimply operated in another dimension—a testament to his conditioning and a season that will be difficult to replicate.

It was equally an unforgettable afternoon for Monasterolo. Riding in just his second Nacional, the Córdoba native was climbing aboard the son of Hi Happy for the very first time in a race after regular rider Borda opted for Cahuel Win. Monasterolo seized the opportunity with both hands and made no attempt to hide his elation during the post-race celebrations. He is enjoying arguably the finest season of his career—even despite a wrist fracture that sidelined him for over two months—displaying full professional maturity years after his dazzling start as an apprentice.

Pedigree history added another compelling layer to the afternoon. Hi Pocho is a son of Hi Happy, who captured the Nacional back in 2015—though under a vastly different script. Whereas that champion had to dig deep into empty reserves to run down Old Bunch (Not for Sale) right on the wire, his son turned the homestretch into a solo exhibition eleven years later. Bred by Haras Embrujo out of Luna de Roma (Roman Ruler), the new Derby hero secured his maiden Group 1 victory.

The final time registered 2:38.53 for the 2,500 meters, a clocking that deserves appreciation given the deep, demanding condition of the dirt track as well as the differences from historical timing methods. Comparing modern times—taken electronically from the opening of the starting gates—directly against older marks recorded with a running start and questionable precision leads to flawed conclusions. Considering how much the winner had left in reserve, the figure was thoroughly respectable.

The sharpest disappointments of the race were Cool Bro (Pneumatic) and Pancho Gio (Caravaggio), the one-two finishers from the Clásico Eduardo Casey (G2) prep. Here, they trailed the field home in last and next-to-last,respectively, more than 60 lengths behind Hi Pocho—two performances impossible to explain away solely by the winner’s superiority, warranting veterinary reports before any firm conclusions are drawn.

The performance also leaves plenty for the handicappers to weigh. A victory of such exceptional caliber calls for a rating commensurate with what the colt actually achieved on the track, rather than a mechanical calculation anchored solely to the level of his beaten rivals. Hi Pocho finished full of run, posted a solid time, and dismantled the best available colts of his crop; his official figure ought to reflect that stature, even if wide margins often invite conservative interpretations.

The setting matched the occasion. Palermo dressed in its finest, welcoming packed grandstands and generating handle exceeding two billion pesos—proof that when marquee racing days are properly staged, the sport retains its full power to draw a crowd.

Ultimately, the race also served as a resounding answer to those who once proposed shortening the Nacional: the 2,500-meter distance is not a problem, but the very core of its identity. When a colt emerges capable of rising to such a test, moments like Hi Pocho’s triumph happen. Some races crown champions; this one etched an image into history.